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House Summons Health Minister, Others over Alleged Misappropriation of $300m Anti-malaria Fund

The House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and Tuberculosis has summoned the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, and the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, to appear before it over allegations of misappropriation of $300 million meant to fight malaria since 2021. The committee members have resolved that the Permanent Secretary should be arrested if she fails to honour the summons within 72 hours. The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, expressed displeasure among his members over the absence of the Permanent Secretary and stressed that the cost for the procurement process of anti-malarial commodities by the Ministry was over $3 million. The committee received a petition from Seasons Law Firm on behalf of Rosies Textile Mills Limited, which petitioned the Ministry of Health and Permanent Secretary for denying indigenous manufacturers of insecticidal nets participation in the contract for the procurement of insecticidal nets and other related products. The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment to immediately halt the signing and implementation of the trade partnership with the UK, to allow UK lawyers to practice in Nigeria, until the terms and conditions governing the agreement are fully examined and ascertained.

Juliet Akoje | Ministry of health/ House of Reps | ThisDay Newspaper | Wednesday, March 20, 2024