President Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, alongside three Executive Directors of the Agency, from office.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, this followed new findings unearthed during a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA.
He said furthermore, President Tinubu had ordered a wider investigation into the conduct of the suspended officials in a fraudulent misexpenditure amounting to over N1.2 billion over the past two years, some of which had already been recovered by anti-graft agencies.
The suspended officials are:
(1) Olaniyi Alaba Netufo — Executive Director, Corporate Services
(2) Barka Sajou — Executive Director, Technical Services
(3) Sa’adatu Balgore — Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF)
Ngelale said following the suspension, the president had appointed some other Nigerians deemed to be qualified to serve in the new management team of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, in acting capacity with immediate effect.
The newly appointed persons are:
(1) Abba Abubakar Aliyu — Managing Director/CEO
(2) Ayoade Gboyega — Executive Director, Corporate Services
(3) Umar Abdullahi Umar — Executive Director, Technical Services
(4) Doris Uboh — Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF)
(5) Olufemi Akinyelure — Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project
Ngelale said Tinubu expected 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 were entrusted to provide critical services to the Nigerian people.
