The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, has recommended the prosecution of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company Limited, NBET, Dr. Marilyn Amobi, and others over alleged financial malpractices.
The recommendation was based on ICPC’s findings following a probe into allegations of corruption against Amobi.
The recommendation, among others, is contained in the summary of the report of the probe, a copy of which was sent to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and copied the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President.
The letter signed by the Chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owosanye, is titled: Re: Report of Allegation of Corruption Against MD/CEO of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company LTD (NBET).
The commission’s recommendations read in part: “(a) Prosecution of all indicted persons, as revealed in the investigation report, for the violation of Procurement Act 2007 and ICPC Act, 2000.”
The commission also recommended “A comprehensive review of the operations of all the Eleven (11) Discos so as to come up with the necessary recommendations that can enhance better performance and adequate remittance to the Federal Government and make necessary input into the power policy as directed by Mr. President.”
In the letter, the commission gave details of its findings in the course of the probe into the allegations against Amobi.
ICPC said its observations and findings derived from a careful analysis of the documents obtained during the investigation carried out.
The anti-graft commission’s observations and findings read:
“(a) All the Eleven (11) Distribution Companies (Discos) have unpaid invoices because of certain factors like unprofitable tariff, non-metering and subsisting court order.
“(b) The Respondent does not follow due process in award of contracts.
“© The Respondent makes payments before securing the approvals.
“(d) The Respondent received excess furniture allowance of N22, 646, 328.48 above the approved N5, 777, 595.00 for CEOs of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
“(e) There was no violation of procurement process in the purchase of the Respondent’s vehicle and in the partitioning of the two floors of the newly rented apartments of the Company (NBET).
“(f) There is no confirmed virement in the company’s expenditure as the capital budget goes through legislative appropriation process through the Federal Ministry of Power and recurrent expenditure is funded through market proceeds remitted as administration/participation charges.
“(g) The trainings of NBET staff got the required approval and mostly sponsored by development partners of the company e.g. Azurra IPP.
“(h) The postings of staff from the office of the Accountant General of Federation were done in accordance with Public Service rules.
“(i) Two management staff, Mr. Waziri Bintube (former Head of Finance) and Mr. Abdullahi Sambo (former Head of Audit) were wrongfully dismissed but the matter has been referred to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. However, the contract award, red flagged by Sambo Abdullahi to two different law firms within the same lot was in violation of procurement process.”
