It appears the controversy over the Federal Government’s RUGA Settlement Project is yet to die as the former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammed Umar, has been queried over a N3.5 billion alleged fraud.
In a query dated May 11, 2020, and signed by the Head of Federal Civil Service, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, asides the alleged RUGA project fraud, Dr. Umar is accused of effecting payments for the purchase of a derelict building for the Agriculture Ministry at over N7 billion.
The top civil servant is also accused of utilising N300 million to purchase deep drilling rigs, without the approval of the Federal Executive Council.
The rigs were allegedly given out to friends by Dr. Umar who retained one for himself.
Dr. Umar, who was redeployed from the Agriculture Ministry to the Science and Technology Ministry last December, was given 72 hours to respond to the allegations.