President Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad and three executive directors of the agency from office.
President’s Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale said the suspension is premised on discoveries unearthed during a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the agency.
“Also suspended are Olaniyi Alaba Netufo, Executive Director, Corporate Services; Barka Sajou, Executive Director, Technical Services and Sa’adatu Balgore, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund,” the statement read.
Ngelale disclosed that the president also ordered a wider investigation into the conduct of the aforementioned officials in a fraudulent mis-expenditure 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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It noted that President Tinubu in a swift action appointed a new management team of the REA in acting capacity with immediate effect.
The appointees are Abba Abubakar Aliyu as Managing Director/CEO; Ayoade Gboyega Executive Director, Corporate Services; Umar Abdullahi Umar, Executive Director, Technical Services; Doris Uboh Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund and Olufemi Akinyelure to head the Project Management Unit of 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,” the statement added.
