EXCLUSIVE: How Ailing Deputy Governor's Absence Fueled N1Billion 'Bogus' Consultancy Scandal In Taraba Women Project

Adding to the controversy, another source within the Ministry of Women Affairs alleged sudden and unexplained changes in the lifestyle of key officials.

SaharaReporters has exclusively gathered details of an alleged large-scale financial impropriety involving the Taraba State Ministry of Women Affairs and officials managing the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP), a World Bank–supported intervention programme designed to empower poor and vulnerable women.

Multiple sources familiar with the project told SaharaReporters that ₦1 billion was released under the heading of consultancy from the Nigeria for Women Project without any explanation of the services rendered, without the name of any consultant, and without any supporting documentation or breakdown, raising serious questions about transparency, due process, and compliance with procurement laws.

Those fingered in the alleged transaction include the Taraba State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Mary Jandora Sinjen; the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Rev. Eric Juyoh Madu; and the Project Coordinator of the Nigeria for Women Project, Mr. Isaac Finya Yarafa.

According to one of the sources who spoke to SaharaReporters on Friday, the officials were allegedly able to push through the controversial release of funds because the Chairman of the NFWP Steering Committee, who is also the Deputy Governor of Taraba State, has been sick and bedridden, creating what the source described as an oversight vacuum that was exploited to run the project unchecked.

“The amount involved is far above the threshold allowed for a commissioner under the procurement law,” the source said.

“Yet, the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Mrs. Mary Jandora Sinjen, together with the Permanent Secretary, Rev. Eric Juyoh Madu, and the Project Coordinator, Mr. Isaac Finya Yarafa, are the ones signing off on this ₦1 billion consultancy.”

For clarity, the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP) is a World Bank–supported intervention programme aimed at economically empowering women, particularly poor and vulnerable women, through the formation and support of Women Affinity Groups.

Another source explained that the project’s core objectives include direct livelihood support, skills development, financial inclusion, small grants, and community-based empowerment initiatives, all designed to ensure that resources reach women directly and tangibly improve their lives.

“Its purpose is not to prioritise massive consultancy contracts running into billions of naira,” the source stressed. “This is public money meant to support women, not to fatten the pockets of a few officials.”

The source further questioned the timing and motive behind the alleged transaction.

“Why is this happening? Is it because the Chairman of the Steering Committee, who is the Deputy Governor, has been sick and incapacitated, leaving these officials to run the project without checks and balances?” the source asked.

Adding to the controversy, another source within the Ministry of Women Affairs alleged sudden and unexplained changes in the lifestyle of key officials.

According to this source, the Permanent Secretary, Rev. Eric Juyoh Madu, who previously lived in a modest two-bedroom house around the Road Block axis in Jalingo, has demolished the property and is now constructing a standard duplex, an expensive project said to be ongoing non-stop.

“Where did he get the money to embark on such a massive project?” the source asked.

The same source also raised concerns about the background of the NFWP Project Coordinator.

“The Project Coordinator, Mr. Isaac Finya Yarafa, has previously been invited by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations of corruption, yet the system continues to operate as if nothing is wrong,” the source said.

More troubling, the source alleged that instead of allowing the coordinator to respond to the anti-graft agency independently, the Taraba State Ministry of Justice reportedly released a State Counsel to accompany him to the ICPC.

“Instead of him going alone to defend himself, the Ministry of Justice sent a State Counsel to accompany him. Is this not an act of institutional support for corrupt practices?” the source queried.

Another source confirmed to SaharaReporters that the Deputy Governor is indeed the Chairman of the NFWP Steering Committee and that his current incapacitation was allegedly exploited as an avenue to squander funds.

“The funds were released for ‘consultancy,’ with no explanation, just a bogus consultancy,” the source said.

“The procurement plan is supposed to clearly show, in detail, why such funds are being released. Instead, they simply listed consultancy and approved ₦1 billion. Completely bogus.”

The source emphasised that the Nigeria for Women Project is a five-year World Bank programme, initially rolled out as a pilot scheme.

“Yes, this is a World Bank project meant for women. The pilot phase has already been completed, and the programme was scheduled to run until 2023 before being scaled up,” the source explained.

According to the source, the pilot programme began in three states, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bauchi, and in Taraba State, it was implemented in three local government areas. The aim of the pilot was to test the model before a wider expansion.

“The objective of the programme is to empower women financially, provide training, develop skills, and improve their economic capacity,” the source said. “So how can anyone justify allocating ₦1 billion for consultancy under such a programme?”

The source further explained how the alleged loophole was exploited.

“The World Bank requires a procurement plan before releasing funds. Once such a document is submitted, the bank does not necessarily interrogate every line item in detail. Once the paperwork is accepted, the funds are released. That is how ₦1 billion was released, without any explanation of what the consultancy was for, without the name of any consultant, and without any supporting details. Just ₦1 billion released under the label of consultancy.”

Documents obtained by SaharaReporters appear to support these claims. A Taraba State Procurement Plan Template, on page 261, lists the following details: Control Number: 173, Budget Year: 2025, Budget Code: 23050103, Package Number: MDA/25/173.

"Lot Number: Lot 003, Procurement Plan Date:13/03/2025, Project Description: Nigerian for Women Activities, Procurement Category (Works/Goods/Consultancy): Consultancy, Contract Type (BOQ/Lump Sum): Lump Sum.

"Estimated Contract Amount: ₦1,000,000,000, Procurement Method: ICB, Approval Threshold (PTB/MTB/BPP/FEC): SEC, Qualification (Pre/Post): Post, Review (Prior/Post): Post, Selection Method (LERB): LERB.”

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters also obtained a letter signed by Lawan Garba, Permanent Secretary, Taraba State Ministry of Justice, addressed to the ICPC.

The letter, dated 27th June 2024, with reference number HWA&CD/ADM/S/2031/II/374, is titled: “REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF A STATE COUNSEL TO ACCOMPANY OFFICIALS OF THE TARABA STATE PROJECT COORDINATOR UNIT, NIGERIA FOR WOMEN PROJECT TO APPEAR BEFORE THE INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES COMMISSION.”

The letter reads in part: “I wish to refer you to the above subject matter and request for release of a state counsel to accompany the state project coordinator, Nigeria for Women Project and two of his staff to appear before the ICPC in Abuja on Tuesday 2nd July, 2024. Submitted for your necessary action, please.”

When SaharaReporters contacted the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Mary Jandorua Sinjen, she dismissed the allegations as false.

“All these are lies. Everything there is a lie. There is nothing like that. It is not true,” she said.

She added, “It is not true. I can defend it. These are just allegations and fabricated lies from someone who wants to tarnish my image or that of the ministry. There is nothing like that, sir. In the Ministry of Women Affairs, we have never had approval, nor have we been given approval, for any amount up to ₦50 million.”

“Since I assumed office, the ministry has never been given such funds. All these claims are lies,” she said.

When reminded of a June 2024 letter from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) requesting the release of a state counsel to accompany officials of the Taraba State Project Coordinating Unit of the Nigeria for Women Project to appear before the commission, Sinjen acknowledged awareness of the letter but denied any wrongdoing.

“I am aware of it, but it was not because of corruption,” she said.

According to her, Taraba State was one of five states that participated in the first phase of the Nigeria for Women Project, which she said began before she assumed office.

“I met the project on ground. After the project, Taraba State received an award for transparency from the World Bank. We were invited so that other states could learn from us. Taraba State emerged as the most transparent state in the implementation of the first phase of the Nigeria for Women Project. That was why the project coordinator was invited,” she explained.

Reacting to claims that a 2025 procurement plan of the Taraba State Ministry of Women Affairs indicated the release of ₦1 billion under “estimated contract amount,” Sinjen denied knowledge of such a document.

“I have never come across that document in my life, and it did not originate from my ministry,” she said. “If it is from the ministry, let them produce the letterhead. Let them show the official letterheaded paper.”

She alleged that the document was manipulated. “They just captured one page from somewhere and attached it to what they wrote. If anyone has facts, let them bring out an official document showing that it was released or approved by the Ministry of Women Affairs,” she said.

“I am ready to face it if such evidence exists, but I know that nothing like that came from this ministry. I am telling you the truth. There is nothing like that. It is pure malice.”