Update: List Of Government Officials Accused Of Diverting CECC Scholarship

See List Of Ministers Who Allegedly Hijacked Chinese Scholarship Scheme For Their Own  Candidates.

The ministers and other top officials who allegedly diverted a scholarship scheme for Nigerian youths put in place by Chinese firm, CCECC, have been identified.

Naija News, last week reported  that undergraduate scholarship scheme by the Chinese construction firm, CCECC, for Nigerian youths was allegedly diverted for those candidates chosen by government officials.

While candidates who were denied the admission spoke to premium times in frustration of what they found out at the transport ministry, government officials said it was not so.

The top officials who benefited were identified in a document used by the construction firm, CCECC, to permit selected candidates to participate in the scholarship interview.

In a document discovered by premium times, names of the persons whose names who were allowed for the interview at the firms’ office in Abuja along with the top officials who nominated them.

Several other candidates who showed up for the interview without being on the ‘special’ list from the officials were stopped at the gate.

Some of the government officials who made nominations, as seen on the CCECC list include:
Minister of State for Education (HMS Ed.), Anthony Onwuka, Minister of Youth and Sports Development (HM Y&SD), Solomon Dalung; Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing (HMS PWH), Suleiman Hassan and Jigawa State Governor (Gov. Jigawa), Badaru Abubakar.

Premium times report that the spokes persons of the principals denied making such nominations for scholarships meant for all Nigerians, while also referring news men to make inquiry from the transport ministry.

The spokespersons to Mr Ogbeh, Olukayode Oyeleye, and that of works and housing ministry, Eno Olotu, said they were not aware of the scholarships or the nominations by their principals.

Akpandem James, spokesperson to Mr Udoma, refused to speak on the subject and referred our reporter back to the Ministry of Transportation.

“If it is official, it is official so it is not something that I want to go into, except it is something that has to do with our ministry and it is official and if it is our activity.

“If it is something that is from another ministry, that ministry should be able to give whatever information required regarding what they are doing,” he said.

Ade Ipaye, the Chief of Staff to the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, was not reachable as his number was unavailable.

Bolaji Kareem, the spokesperson for Mr Shittu, said he was also unaware of the situation but would try to verify before he responds. He has since not responded to a text message sent to him and did not return calls.

When contacted, the man who told the ministers to make nominations simply stood his ground on his earlier statement.

Meanwhile Naija News earlier reported that Sabiu Zakari, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, claimed there was no such scholarship for the public.

In his words
“The ministry is not receiving any application for such training from the general public,” “Therefore the general public is advised to disregard any information being circulated for submission of such applications to the Ministry or any other person.”