N1.2b Fraud: Pres. Tinubu suspends Rural Electrification Agency MD, three others
President Bola Tinubu has suspended the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, and three executive directors of the agency.
This followed “new findings unearthed during a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the Rural Electrification Agency,”.
Confirming the suspension in a statement on Thursday, presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said,
“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,” the statement read.
“Olaniyi Alaba Netufo — Executive Director, Corporate Services; Barka Sajou — Executive Director, Technical Services; Sa’adatu Balgore — Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF).
“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.”
Following the suspension, Tinubu appointed a new team to serve in the agency in an acting capacity.
They are Abba Abubakar Aliyu as Managing Director/CEO, Ayoade Gboyega as Executive Director of Corporate Services, Umar Abdullahi Umar as Executive Director of Technical Services, Doris Uboh as the Executive Director of Rural Electrification Fund (REF) and Olufemi Akinyelure as the Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project.
President Tinubu urged the newly appointed officials to uphold the highest standards in the discharge of their duties. He reiterated his commitment to prioritizing the aspirations of Nigerians for good governance and qualitative service delivery, transcending the narrow interests of individuals entrusted with crucial responsibilities for the Nigerian people.
