By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has ordered the indefinite suspension of the acting executive of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) over fraudulent misexpenditure amounting to over N1.2 billion.
The Special Adviser to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, stated that the Managing Director, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, was suspended together with his team in a statement made available to Stonix News on Thursday.
It was stated that Director Ahmad, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Olaniyi Alaba Netufo, the Executive Director, Technical Services, Barka Sajou and the Executive Director, of the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) were suspended after an investigation into the financial activities of the agency.
Following the suspension, new qualified executives have been appointed to serve in the new management team of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in an acting capacity with immediate effect.
The appointed persons are Abba Abubakar Aliyu as Managing Director/CEO, Ayoade Gboyega as Executive Director, Corporate Services, Umar Abdullahi Umar as Executive Director, Technical Services, Doris Uboh as Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF) and Olufemi Akinyelure as Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project.
The statement read thus: “In the light of new findings unearthed during a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), President Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, alongside three Executive Directors of the Agency, from office:
“Olaniyi Alaba Netufo — Executive Director, Corporate Services, Barka Sajou — Executive Director, Technical Services and Sa’adatu Balgore — Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF)
“Furthermore, President Tinubu has ordered a wider investigation into the conduct of the aforementioned officials in a fraudulent misexpenditure amounting to over N1.2 billion over the past two years, some of which has already been recovered by anti-graft agencies.
“By the directive of the President, the following qualified Nigerians are appointed to serve in the new management team of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in acting capacity with immediate effect:
“Abba Abubakar Aliyu — Managing Director/CEO, Ayoade Gboyega — Executive Director, Corporate Services, Umar Abdullahi Umar — Executive Director, Technical Services, Doris Uboh — Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF) and Olufemi Akinyelure — Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project
“President Bola Tinubu expects all appointees in his administration to uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties and reiterates his determination to elevate the yearnings of Nigerians for good governance and qualitative service delivery above the narrow interests of individuals who are entrusted to provide critical services to the Nigerian people.”
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