The Auditor-General for the Federation, Anthony Ayine, has described as “scandalous and embarrassing” a report alleging that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo connived with him to withdraw N10 billion from the National Health Insurance Scheme account.
The AG spoke on the report in a statement he personally signed on Monday.
Ayine advised the general public to ignore and disregard the libelous publication in its entirety.
He said the publication, which was a mere fiction of the author’s imagination, was self-seeking and not for public good or interest.
Ayine noted that his role and responsibilities as the auditor-general were to audit the nation’s accounts and report to the National Assembly.
According to him, the Auditor-General for the Federation has no Powers whatsoever to authorise withdrawal.
He said he does not have any business withdrawing money from the NHIS or any other Ministry, Department or Agency of government.
He said: “I was only appointed in January 2017, and could not have withdrawn any money in December 2016 as claimed.
“Ever since my appointment as Auditor-General for the Federation, I have never been a Board Member or an officer of the NHIS, nor have I ever been a signatory to any bank account operated by the NHIS.
“The powers and responsibilities of the Auditor-General for the Federation of Nigeria are enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and are clearly spelt out.
“It is noteworthy that the Constitution did not give the Auditor-General any powers or rights to authorise withdrawal of any money or monies in accounts of any MDA whatsoever.
“The Auditor-General for the Federation has no direct reporting relationship with the Vice President. Such irresponsible online publication is a calculated attempt to deceive the public and to tarnish the image of the Auditor-General for the Federation and the Vice President, and must be condemned by all and sundry.”
Ayine assured the public that the integrity of himself and that of his Office, which had been lauded nationally and internationally for the professionalism in discharging the constitutionally assigned responsibilities, remained intact.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that an online publication had accused Ayine and the Vice President of withdrawing money from the account of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
UEFA Features Asisat Oshoala In #Weplaystrong Campaign Documentary With Aim To Change Perception Of Women’s Football
As part of UEFA’s Together #WePlayStrong campaign, UEFA has featured Super Eagles forward and Barcelona Femini Nigeria CAF award winner, Asisat Oshoala in a documentary produced with the aim of changing the perception of women’s football and will be released tomorrow.
The episode is being released ahead of Barcelona’s crucial fixture against Atletico Madrid as the UEFA Women’s Champions League makes its long awaited comeback this Friday (21st August). Asisat was a key player in last year’s final after coming on in the 87th minute and scoring Barcelona’s only goal of the game – making history by becoming the first African to score in a UWCL final – and she is hoping to come back even stronger this year, score more goals and ultimately lift the trophy with Barcelona.
In the documentary (which is in partnership with Esprit), Asisat talks about how playing on the world stage of women’s football could quite easily have never happened. Growing up in an environment where girls weren’t involved in sport, Asisat felt she had to hide the fact she was playing football and kept it a secret from her family, which built into a troubled relationship over time. She discusses the difficulty in having to make lifechanging decisions without the support of her family at such a young age, with her only beacon of hope being her grandmother who sadly passed away.
It was only when she won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot after she played in the FIFA U20’s Women’s World Cup in 2014 that she began to build the relationship again with her family, and has since claimed four African Women’s Footballer of the Year prizes, played in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and been part of top teams including Liverpool and Arsenal FC. She’s also started her own foundation in South Africa to help create opportunities for young girls to get involved in football.