NITR Denies N391m Fraud Allegations, Defends Management Integrity

Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR) has rejected allegations of N391 million financial misconduct, describing the reports as "inaccurate, unverified, and misleading." In a formal statement, NITR defended its Director-General Dr Joachim Joseph Ajakaiye and management team, asserting that all financial processes comply with government regulations.

The institute specifically rejected claims that the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) was manipulated, noting that the system is controlled by multiple government institutions. NITR clarified that a referenced police case was dismissed by court for lack of merit and was unrelated to financial matters.

The research institute characterized allegations of phantom travel claims, inflated fuel expenses, and "kick-and-share" practices as speculative and based on anonymous sources. NITR stated its financial activities are routinely monitored by the Office of the Accountant-General and Auditor-General, and invited stakeholders to verify its operations firsthand.

Should government research institutes proactively publish regular financial audits to prevent such controversies, or is the current oversight by multiple agencies sufficient for public accountability?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/04/02/nitr-denies-n391m-fraud-allegations-defends-management-integrity/