By Frank Ulom
President Tinubu has suspended the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, alongside three Executive Directors of the Agency, from office indefinitely.
Their suspension, CONVERSEER learned was in the light of new findings unearthed during a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the agency.
The three others suspended are Olaniyi Alaba Netufo, Executive Director, Corporate Services, Barka Sajou, Executive Director, Technical Services, and Sa’adatu Balgore, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF).
According to a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity on Thursday, 7 March 2024, Tinubu “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.”
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According to Ngelale, the President approved the appointment of Abba Abubakar Aliyu as the acting Managing Director/CEO of REA.
Three other Executive Directors appointed into REA by President Tinubu in acting capacity are Ayoade Gboyega as Executive Director, Corporate Services; Umar Abdullahi Umar as Executive Director, Technical Services; and Doris Uboh as Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF).
The President also appointed Olufemi Akinyelure as acting Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project.
The statement said the appointment is with immediate effect, adding, “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.”
