NAMA Drama: Rebels in the House

February 12, 2016 was another day of stormy experience for the entire family of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) when the highly skilled and vibrant Managing Director/Chief Executive, Engr Ibrahim Abdulsalam and some management staff were invited to the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for interrogation over an alleged fraud of over five billion naira.

Officers of the Air Navigation Service Provider who were invited for questioning at the anti-graft agency’s office at Ikoyi in Lagos, Nigeria include the cerebral General Manager, Procurement, Engr Olumuyiwa Adegorite; Director of Finance, Clara Aliche; Project Manager, Mrs Felicia Agubata and the General Manager Finance, Mr Nurudeen Olusegun Agbolade.

The invitation allegedly followed a petition said to have been written by a cabal in the agency who are bent on seeing to the exit of the top echelon so they can entrench themselves in power.

The rebel leader is said to have recently lost his chance of becoming an aide to one of Nigeria’s ministers for unclear reasons which are believed to be connected to his record of misconduct at the agency. He was alleged to have been showing interest in the NAMA top seat and at various times stirred labour crisis and unrest in the agency to discredit the invited persons whom he hoped will be removed after writing false petitions.

READ: EFCC arraigns NAMA MD, four others for N6.9bn fraud

Air Transport Quarterly investigation revealed that the gang leader who is relying on his connection with some powerful northerners is already jubilating over the development in the agency and warming up to take the place of the managing director.

The power play which led to invitation and detention of NAMA MD, Abdulsalam for over two months is also alleged to have taken another dimension as the leader of the cabal has also deployed media scrutiny strategy by ensuring a media trial of the MD and other senior management staff.

During a visit to NAMA’s headquarters at Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos staff of the agency expressed dismay at the approach of EFCC to the petitions.

The staff frowned at the fact that EFCC began investigation only began after arresting the MD, stressing that, the anti-graft agency found nothing on him and others but detained them all the same.

First published by Air Transport Quarterly