BAVCCA Defends Nwoye, Demands Proof of Alleged N50m Budget Diversion

The Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association in Nigeria (BAVCCA) has defended Senator Tony Okechukwu Nwoye against allegations that he diverted or withheld N50 million budgeted for the distribution of sewing machines to women in the Omambala area of Anambra North Senatorial District.

The association described the allegation as false, politically motivated and unsupported by evidence, challenging those behind the claim to produce documentary proof to substantiate it.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, BAVCCA, which said it represents over 5,000 professional digital content creators across the country, accused the promoters of the allegation of misleading the public on how Nigeria’s budget implementation process works.

The group maintained that the campaign against the senator amounted to an attempt to tarnish his reputation through misinformation and character assassination.

“We have observed with great concern a series of publications alleging that Senator Tony Nwoye diverted or withheld Fifty Million Naira appropriated in the Federal Budget for the provision of sewing machines to women in the Omambala Region of Anambra North,” the association said.

“We therefore state, without fear of contradiction, that the allegation is not only frivolous and mischievous but also exposes the ignorance of its promoters regarding Nigeria’s constitutional framework and the mechanics of federal budget implementation.”

BAVCCA argued that under Sections 80 and 81 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the National Assembly is empowered to approve government expenditure through appropriation, while responsibility for implementing the budget rests solely with the Executive.

According to the association, lawmakers neither receive funds appropriated for constituency projects nor act as accounting officers for such interventions.

“At no point does a Senator receive budgeted funds into a personal account or become the accounting officer for a federal project,” it stated.

The group insisted that anyone accusing Senator Nwoye of withholding public funds must first establish that the money was released by the Federal Government, identify the implementing Ministry, Department or Agency and provide evidence that the lawmaker exercised control over the funds.

It stressed that the mere inclusion of a project in the federal budget does not amount to proof that funds were released or that implementation had commenced.

“A budget line is not evidence of fund release. Fund release is not evidence of project execution. Project execution is not evidence that a legislator controlled public funds. These are elementary facts of public finance,” the association said.

BAVCCA noted that many projects contained in annual federal budgets are delayed or only partially funded because implementation depends on revenue availability, cash backing and approvals by the Executive.

Rather than scrutinising the agency responsible for implementing the project, the association alleged that political opponents had chosen to target the senator with what it described as unfounded accusations.

The group also defended Nwoye’s record in public service, describing him as a philanthropist whose contributions to education, healthcare, youth empowerment and community development across Anambra North predated his political career.

According to the association, the senator has facilitated numerous constituency interventions, including school projects, scholarships, healthcare programmes, rural infrastructure, solar-powered streetlights, water schemes, agricultural support and skills acquisition initiatives across the district.

BAVCCA argued that it was unreasonable to suggest that a public official with such a record would risk his reputation over a N50 million project.

The association challenged the promoters of the allegation to answer a number of questions, including whether the project received cash backing, whether funds were released by the Federal Government, which Ministry, Department or Agency was responsible for implementation, whether any procurement process had begun and what the Budget Office’s implementation records showed.

It maintained that until those questions were answered with verifiable evidence, the allegation remained “mere political propaganda.”

The association also urged Nigerians, particularly residents of Anambra North Senatorial District, to be wary of unverified claims circulated on social media, warning that digital platforms should not be used to destroy reputations through misinformation.

While reaffirming its support for transparency, accountability and responsible journalism, BAVCCA said allegations of corruption should be reported to the appropriate investigative agencies and backed by credible evidence rather than prosecuted through media campaigns.

The association reaffirmed its confidence in Senator Nwoye and urged him to remain focused on what it described as quality representation and the continued development of Anambra North.