The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has refuted allegations levelled against him by former chairman, governing board of Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu, Daniel Onjeh.
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In a statement signed yesterday by the head, Press and Public Relations, Afonja Ajibola, allegations brought against the minister and others in the Ministry by Onjeh during his recent appearance on African Independent Television (AIT) were false and unfounded.
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According to the statement, Onjeh had accused the minister of directing the acting Director General, Project Development Institute (PRODA), to hand over to the most senior director in the agency without going through the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The minister was also said to have neglected due process in dissolving the governing board of PRODA, bypassing the SGF.
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Onjeh equally stated that since appointment, Onu has not brought up any tangible policy and that the recently appointed board members of PRODA are cronies of the ministry and are neck-deep into financial misappropriation.
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He also accused the Director, Legal Services of being notorious in giving improper advice and railroading the progress of the ministry.
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But the minister, in his reaction, held that Onjeh has no legal status to speak on PRODA and its management “unless he has fears of being indicted by any investigation.
He was therefore advised to allow the well-constituted and inaugurated governing board to carry out its mandates as directed by the President without further interference.
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According to the statement by the ministry, Onjeh was asked to step aside following the suspension of former Director General of PRODA, Dr. Charles Agulana, to allow for an unbiased investigation, headed by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) into numerous petitions of allegations against both of them.
