Why Winifred Oyo-Ita Resigned – Family Associate

Perhaps as a sign of honour, the head of service of the federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita has offered to immediately proceed on retirement in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

It will be recalled that Winifred has been under pressure from her immediate family to retire after news reports emerged that she was being probed over an alleged N3 billion contract scam.

A family source told us she bowed to family pressures and sent in a letter on Sunday offering to proceed on retirement. She is not present at the ongoing presidential retreat for ministers -designate and top government functionaries.

The presidency is yet to make a pronouncement on her letter.

“Mrs Oyo-Ita has sent in her letter of retirement to the president,” a family member confirmed.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently questioned Oyo-Ita over allegations that she used front companies to get contracts when she was a permanent secretary before her appointment as head of service by Buhari in 2015.

There were insinuations that she was being “punished” for “falling out” with Abba Kyari. But further investigations show that the president’s chief of staff was unaware of the EFCC probe until it was leaked to the media.

Oyo-Ita has also told her associates not to drag Kyari into the matter because “it is not true”, according to a family member.

Meanwhile a civil society organisation had issued her 72 hours ultimatum to resign her position or face the music.

However, Oyo-Ita also denied the allegation, saying the money was meant for the death benefits of staff and was meant to be kept in a designated account for that purpose by the project accountant.

“She denied knowing anything about where the money was kept and said there was no fraud involved, at least not from her end,” the family member said.