N.5 billion scam rocks NIPSS

Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 09.03.2008

The Director General of the National Institute of Planning and Strategic Studies {NIPSS}, Professor Akin Akidoyemi and 11 top members of staff have been quizzed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission {ICPC} over an alleged N565 million scam rocking the Institute.

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, is currently studying at the institute located at Kuru in Jos, Plateau State.

An interim report dated 22nd February, 2008 filed in by a two-man investigation team from the ICPC also indicted a former Director General of the Institute, Major General M.C. Osahor.

The commission’s investigation of the Institute’s account books was reportedly triggered by a petition authored by some members of the Non-Academic Staff Union, accusing the leadership of the Institute of sundry financial scams, especially during the tenure of the sacked Osahor.

On 18th February, when the ICPC investigators stormed the Institute, Dr. Yakubu Sankey, Secretary and Director of Administration, who was also fingered in the petition as Osahor’s main collaborator, was the first person to be encountered on the alleged scam.

Sunday Tribune also learnt that out of the nine crucial documents demanded from Sankey by the investigators, he could only produce two, while begging for time to produce the rest.

Subsequently, he was reportedly summoned to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja alongside Osahor for appearance on February 28.

The documents produced were a copy of Osahor’s sack letter and the report of Barrister J.I. Abolarin’s committee that investigated a petition filed against Osahor’s leadership in 2004 by NASU.

Other officials quizzed alongside Sankey on February 18 included the Bursar, Mr. Adekunle Akinkurolere and Principal Accountant, Mr. Aderemi Ogunnaike.

Sunday Tribune further gathered that seven banks relevant to the on-going probe had been written by the commission for documents and information, while one Alhaji Bawa Ahmed, alleged as one of the pawns used by the ex-DG Osahor in the bursary department and Engineer P.D. Gumel, Controller of Works had also been summoned to appear in Abuja.

The preliminary findings of the commission, Sunday Tribune gathered, are;

*That one Major {now Lt. Col.} Otogo, then Special Assistant Finance to the first suspect {Osahor} has over N100 million unretired cash and cheque advances.

Summoned through the Chief of Staff for the attention of Director of Army Finance {DAFA} being a finance officer.

*That one Alhaji Adamu Mohammed and former Secretary/Director of Administration of NIPSS were deeply involved in some of the matters being investigated and would, therefore, be required to answer a number of questions. They are said to be pool offi cers who can be traced through Head of Civil Service of the Federation. An invitation has been extended to them through HOS.

*That sometimes in 2002, the first suspect {Osahor} caused the virement of the sum of N52 million through one company, Punz Limited owned by one Paul Uzor who helped NIPSS to clear the money from its Capital Vote at the Central Bank of Nigeria and now paid NIPSS back through Punz Ltd.’s Standard Trust Bank of Nigeria {now UBA} Jos branch.

*That the money was converted to foreign currencies and used for NIPSS Course Participants’ foreign tours.

It was the balance of these foreign currencies {$14,230 and 11,700 Euros} that the ex-DG was allegedly unable to produce.

The suspects in the alleged scam were accused of inflating the cost of two projects by N119 million, allegedly raising it from the estimated figure of N300 million to N419 million.

Osahor was also accused of unilaterally transferring N30 million from NIPSS account at Zenith Bank on 2nd December, 2003 for personal profit, while his Special Adviser, Otogo was allegedly given over N40 million as cash advances which were not retired as statutorily required.

Over N23 million was equally allegedly paid to a company, Rinton International Ltd. for a job not executed, while another N47.7 million contract was allegedly given to Wilelmina Nig. Ltd, which was allegedly not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

A presidential panel which allegedly investigated the allegations came up with damning report, which recommendations allegedly remained unimplemented.

The ICPC said investigation is continuing on the matter.