A group of concerned citizens of Nigeria has submitted a petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for the immediate suspension and investigation of the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, over a litany of allegations, including gross misconduct, monumental fraud, and misappropriation of public funds.
In the Petition, Mr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad was alleged to have engaged in gross misconduct and unethical behavior during his tenure. Furthermore, it claims that he has been involved in misappropriating public funds intended for electrification projects, with allegations reaching as high as 1.5 billion naira and 750 million dollars from the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The most damning accusation against Mr. Ahmad is the looting of the agency’s resources for personal gain, allegedly at the expense of delivering essential electrification services to underserved communities. He is also accused of diverting public funds into private accounts through several staff members who acted as conduits for these illicit financial transactions.
This diversion of public funds as alleged has purportedly been carried out through multiple bank accounts, leading to substantial financial losses for the agency and the Nigerian people. The existence of over 37 different accounts linked to Mr. Ahmad, which seem to contradict his last asset declaration with the Code of Conduct Bureau, has also raised suspicions.
Under Mr. Ahmad’s leadership, the Rural Electrification Agency received significant financial support from the World Bank and AfDB, amounting to over $550 million. However, the promised benefits of this support, aimed at providing energy access to impoverished communities, have reportedly not materialized.
The petition further highlights the alleged involvement of Olaniyi Netufo, the Executive Director of Corporate Services, in private business activities while serving as a public officer. Documents attached to the petition suggest that Netufo holds a majority shareholding of 40% in a private limited liability company called NECOL (Nigeria) Ltd, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest and ethical concerns.
Despite these grave allegations, Mr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad has remained in his position, with claims of being untouchable due to purported backing by top government officials, including the National Security Adviser Mal. Nuhu Ribadu, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Kashim Shettima, and the Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila.
In a recent development, Mr. Salihijo Ahmad was accused of influencing the Deputy Spokesperson of the Federal House of Representatives with a substantial sum to issue a false press release stating that he had been cleared by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts and other committees, including the House Committee on Anti-Corruption. However, it was revealed that Mr. Ahmad had refused to honor the Anti-Corruption Committee’s invitation for investigation and had requested a postponement.
The petition concludes with three key demands from the concerned citizens:
1. The immediate suspension and investigation of Managing Director Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad by relevant anti-corruption agencies to verify the allegations against him.
2. The removal of any government officials found to be complicit in protecting Mr. Ahmad from facing accountability for his alleged actions.
3. A comprehensive and independent forensic audit of the Rural Electrification Agency to uncover the full extent of financial mismanagement and fraud.
