Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the manager secretary of the Nigerian Content material Growth and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), is at the moment beneath hearth over alleged diversion of N7.7 billion ($4.7 million).
In response to a report by SaharaReporters, the mentioned fund was allegedly misappropriated with out the required approval from the authorised ranges as outlined within the related procurement protocols and insurance policies.
The report states that the Felix Omatsola Ogbe permitted three requests from Fatima Bashir Mohammed, the appearing director of finance, who allegedly used her former place on the Unbiased Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Fee (ICPC) to authorize funds to the consulting agency S.B Capital Companions & Advisory Restricted, owned by Stephen Bawa.
These funds considerably exceeded the approval limits, even for the Ministerial Tenders Board (MTB).
The sources acknowledged that the approving authority for such quantities is the Federal Govt Council (FEC).
“Two of the three funds are US$3,062,089.52 and US$1,636,846.42, totalling US$4,698,935.94 (which quantities to N5,052,447,675.00 and N2,700,796,593.00 respectively, and totalling N7,753,244,301.00) on the common change price of 1,650/US$1 prevailing on the time. Not one of the three break up quantities falls inside the fee threshold outdoors the FEC,” one of many sources mentioned.
In response to the supply, essentially the most troubling facet is that the fee was processed on the Central {Bank} of Nigeria with none proof that the marketing consultant had really recovered the funds for which the price was paid.
“How a lot did the marketing consultant get well to earn such a price?” the supply requested.
The contract is reportedly linked to the restoration of funds that had been deducted from the Nigerian Content material Growth Fund by the Workplace of the Accountant Basic of the Federation (OAGF).
“The OAGF is a vital workplace of the federal authorities beneath the Federal Ministry of Finance. The NCDMB can also be a government-owned entity. Due to this fact, it is a government-to-government transaction that shouldn’t be topic to personal consulting intervention,” the supply acknowledged.
“The deduction was initiated by the federal authorities and requires direct communication with the related authorities officers or engagement on the highest degree of each events, fairly than fleecing the general public treasury of greater than N7 billion beneath the guise of consulting,” a supply mentioned..
The supply indicated that the three funds characterize contract splitting, a apply forbidden by procurement guidelines and procedures.
Regardless of these infractions, the alleged people concerned—Fatima Mohammed, the appearing director of finance; Ifeanyi Ukoha; and Mubarak Zubair, the appearing basic supervisor of finance and accounts—who had been all appointed by Felix Ogbe with out authorities approval, went forward with the funds.
“No matter these violations, the puppets — Fatima Mohammed, who originated the thought and wrote the memos, in addition to the Appearing Director of Finance, Ifeanyi Ukoha, and the Appearing Basic Supervisor of Finance & Accounts, Mubaraq Zubair, who had been all appointed by Felix Ogbe with out the mandatory authorities approval — proceeded to make the three funds,” one of many sources mentioned.
A doc obtained by the newspaper, titled “Nigerian Content material Growth and Monitoring Board, NCDMB: Prime Administration Committee (TMC) Assembly” with reference quantity TMC-02/10/06/2024/01, exhibits the approval of 1000’s of {dollars} for sponsoring a five-day capability coaching workshop for the Board’s important stakeholders within the {financial} sector, held in the UK.
The extract from the TMC Consideration of tenth June 2024, signed by Director, Authorized Companies, Naboth Onyesoh, partly reads: “TMC is requested to think about and approve the Board’s sponsorship of a five-day capability coaching workshop to be facilitated by Expertise Experience Worldwide in London, United Kingdom for the Board’s important stakeholders within the {financial} sector.”
TMC thought-about and permitted the next: “Engagement of Expertise Experience Worldwide to prepare and execute the high-impact coaching programme for the recognized important stakeholders in London in October 2024 at a value of USD$110,993.75 (N182,251,737.5 at N1642 per greenback) (inclusive of taxes).
“The sum of USD$5,950.00 (N9,769,900) be paid to every of the 15 important stakeholders (amounting to (N146,548,500) whereas the sum of USD$2,000.00 (N3,284,000) be paid to the opposite 7 members of the Board administration as course charges which can cowl the course materials, provisions for morning and noon snacks, lunch, and group tour for staff constructing.
“Cost of the sum of USD$106,960.00 (N175,628,320) as estacode to all members and USD$17,780.00 (N29,194,760) to five members of the secretariat primarily based on their relevant estacode charges all through 5 coaching days plus 2 journey days.
“Cost of the sum of USD$30,000.00 (N49,260,000) being the logistics price for the important stakeholders,” the doc partly learn.
The newspaper reported that Omatsola Ogbe didn’t reply his calls or reply to a textual content message requesting his feedback on the allegations on the time of submitting the report.