FG Routed ₦100m Onu Burial Fund Through Official’s Account

The GovSpend record indicates that the ₦100 million was paid directly into Senen's personal bank account rather than a government account, burial committee account or directly to service providers.

The Federal Government transferred ₦100 million into the personal bank account of an official in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) to cover expenses for the burial of former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, official payment records reviewed by GovSpend show.

The payment, processed by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) on December 11, 2024, was made to Nongo Senen, an OAGF official identified in the payment description as the project accountant.

According to the payment record, the transaction was described as: "Being payment to the project accountant in respect of financial support by the FG to cover the expenses of the burial of the late Ogbonnaya Onu, former Minister of Science and Technology."

The GovSpend record indicates that the ₦100 million was paid directly into Senen's personal bank account rather than a government account, burial committee account or directly to service providers.

Official records show that Senen was promoted to the position of Chief Accountant in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation in July 2023.

The transaction has drawn attention because of the use of a personal account for the disbursement of public funds, despite the payment being for an official government-supported burial.

Transparency and accountability advocates have consistently argued that public funds should be disbursed through designated government accounts or directly to contractors and service providers to ensure proper audit trails and reduce the risk of misuse.

Dr. Onu, a former governor of Abia State and one of Nigeria's leading political figures, died in April 2024 at the age of 72 after a prolonged illness. He served as Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation from 2015 until 2022, when he resigned to seek the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He was buried in November 2024 in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, with President Bola Tinubu and several senior government officials among the dignitaries who attended the funeral.

At the burial, Tinubu described Onu as "a true progressive" and "a quintessential politician" committed to Nigeria's development.

However, the subsequent release of ₦100 million by the Federal Government—paid into the personal account of an OAGF official designated as the project accountant—has renewed scrutiny over public financial management practices.

The disclosure is expected to intensify calls for greater transparency and stricter safeguards in the disbursement of public funds, particularly where government expenditure is routed through the personal accounts of public officials, even for official purposes.