African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticised the management of public funds in Nigerian foreign missions, alleging that a Mercedes-Benz vehicle at the country’s embassy in New York was used to purchase food for staff.
Sowore made the disclosure during an interview from 23.36 on AIT News, where he recounted an experience at the Nigerian embassy while discussing government expenditure abroad.
He said he received information while working at Sahara Reporters that plans were underway to purchase about five Mercedes-Benz vehicles for newly appointed ambassadors.
According to him, a subsequent visit to the embassy in New York for passport renewal exposed what he considered an unnecessary use of an expensive official vehicle.
Sowore also questioned the need for such a luxury car to transport food from the Bronx, suggesting that the Nigerian House in New York could accommodate kitchens where staff could prepare their meals.
Recalling what he discovered during the visit, Sowore said, “One day I went to the embassy to do maybe a passport renewal or something, and I discovered that one of the vehicles, the Mercedes-Benz car, its purpose is to go and buy food in the Bronx for staff. A Mercedes-Benz car; they have to go and buy food. Food that they could cook at home.”