7th March, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday suspended the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad and three executive directors over misappropriation of N1.2 billion.
The executive directors 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)
A statement issued by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale on Thursday said Tinubu took the decision in the light of new findings unearthed during a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
Ngelale said Tinubu had 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 had already been recovered by anti-graft agencies.
The president appointed new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officers and executive directors to replace the suspended one on acting capacity.
The new acting MD/CEO of REA now is Abba Abubakar Aliyu. Others are 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,” Ngelale said.