The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has rejected allegations raised by Global Integrity Watch (GIW) over an alleged ₦209.09 million expenditure on diaspora events in 2023, describing the campaign against the commission as a “witch hunt” aimed at damaging its reputation.
The position was contained in a statement authored by Amina Kabiru, who argued that an audit query should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing or diversion of public funds.
According to her, “An audit query is not a declaration of guilt. An unresolved audit observation is not proof that public funds were stolen.”
Kabiru accused GIW of presenting the Auditor-General’s observation concerning the expenditure as though NiDCOM received the funds without delivering any programmes.
She described such an interpretation as a “reckless leap,” arguing that the commission organised several major diaspora-related programmes during the period under review.
One of the programmes highlighted was the Global African Diaspora Forum, which Nigeria hosted through NiDCOM in 2023, with 16 countries participating.
Kabiru said the forum was significant enough for the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States to designate NiDCOM Chairman, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, as its Diaspora Champion.
She added that plans were also underway to establish the organisation’s diaspora headquarters in Nigeria, describing the development as an indication of the importance attached to the programme.
Beyond the forum, Kabiru listed the National Diaspora Investment Summit, National Diaspora Day, National Diaspora Merit Awards and other interventions carried out for Nigerians living abroad.
“The records are available,” she stated, insisting that NiDCOM was prepared to respond to any legitimate query through the appropriate process.
She said if authorities request documents, the commission would provide them, while any established discrepancy should be handled by the relevant institutions.
“That is accountability,” she said.
However, Kabiru questioned GIW’s own operations and called for greater transparency from the organisation as it continues its campaign against government agencies.
She noted that GIW publicly launched what she described as its principal Nigeria accountability initiative on August 17, 2026.
She also raised questions about the business activities associated with GIW’s Executive Director, Abraham Temitayo Adewoye, stating that he is listed as the sole director of a UK-registered company whose stated activities include information technology consultancy, property management, travel agency activities and specialised cleaning services.
“So a direct question is necessary: is GIW an accountability organisation, a cleaning service or a blackmailer?” Kabiru asked.
She further directly questioned Adewoye, saying, “Comrade, are you a cleaner or a blackmailer?”
Kabiru stressed that the question was not an accusation of criminal conduct but, according to her, a demand for clarity regarding GIW’s organisation, funding and interests.
She also criticised what she described as an attempt to turn an audit observation into a public accusation before NiDCOM had been formally invited by the relevant authorities to respond.
“That is how witch hunts operate. A query becomes an allegation, an allegation becomes a headline, and the headline becomes a verdict in the court of public opinion,” she said.
Kabiru further suggested that political considerations could be influencing the campaign, given Dabiri-Erewa’s visibility within the current administration and the approaching election cycle.
She maintained that political pressure should not replace due process, insisting that anyone with evidence should present it to the appropriate authorities.
“If there is evidence, present it. If there is a case, take it to the appropriate authority,” she said.
The statement concluded with a firm rejection of intimidation, with Kabiru declaring that NiDCOM would not be “bullied, blackmailed or financially pressured into submission.”
A strong ending sentence would be:
NiDCOM maintained that while it remains open to legitimate scrutiny, it will continue to defend its record and insist that any allegation of wrongdoing must be established through due process rather than public pressure or media campaigns.