SEMA Boss Submits To Probe Over Alleged Diversion Of IDP Relief Materials
SEMA Boss Submits To Probe Over Alleged Diversion Of IDP Relief Materials
Speaking to SaharaReporters during a telephone interview on Sunday, Audu denied the claims and explained that her decision to submit herself to authorities was driven by the need for transparency and accountability.
The Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Echuseh Audu, has voluntarily presented herself to security and investigative authorities for scrutiny following allegations circulated in a Facebook post accusing the agency of diverting relief materials.
According to reports, Audu reported to multiple agencies, including the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Special Adviser on Security to the Taraba State Governor, and the state Ministry of Justice, requesting a comprehensive investigation into the claims.
The allegations, which originated on Facebook and later spread across social media platforms, claimed that more than 10,000 bags of rice and over 1,000 cartons of groundnut oil meant for internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups were diverted and sold outside the state.
However, no verifiable evidence has been publicly presented to support the accusations.
SEMA
Earlier on Sunday, SaharaReporters reported that Audu had been accused of attempting to use the police to intimidate and silence a human rights activist, Abdulmumin Imam, following his public demand for accountability over the distribution of relief materials meant for internally displaced persons (IDPs), vulnerable groups, and poor residents in Taraba State.
Audu, a senior public official overseeing one of the most critical humanitarian agencies in the state, reportedly filed a petition against Imam, accusing him of cyberbullying, criminal defamation of character, and criminal intimidation after he questioned whether relief materials under her watch were reaching their intended beneficiaries.
Speaking to SaharaReporters during a telephone interview on Sunday, Audu denied the claims and explained that her decision to submit herself to authorities was driven by the need for transparency and accountability.
“Once an allegation is made, silence can be misinterpreted as acceptance. We have worked hard to build credibility and support vulnerable communities, so it is important to address this directly,” she said.
She emphasised that unverified claims could damage the agency’s reputation and weaken trust among donor partners and beneficiaries.
“There is a lot at stake. We must maintain public confidence and eliminate any doubt. That is why I chose to present myself for a full investigation,” she added.
Audu also challenged the accuser to provide concrete evidence, stressing that accountability must be grounded in facts rather than speculation.
“If I am found guilty, I should face the law. If not, I deserve to be cleared, because unresolved allegations can have long-term consequences,” she stated.
She further questioned the practicality of the alleged diversion, noting that transporting such a large volume of items would require significant logistics that should be traceable.
“Moving over 10,000 bags of rice and 1,000 cartons of oil would require multiple trailers. Such movement cannot go unnoticed and should be easy for authorities to track,” she said.
Meanwhile, the police have initiated an investigation into the matter. The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has Imam to appear for questioning on April 1, 2026, as part of efforts to substantiate the claims.
Audu reiterated her readiness to cooperate fully with investigators, calling for a thorough, fair, and evidence-based process to determine the truth.
