Fraud: Tinubu suspends CEO of REA, Salihijo Ahmad, 3 Executive Directors

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.

The suspension which was made public via a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, explained that the action was in the light of new findings unearthed during a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the agency.

Also suspended are the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Olaniyi Alaba Netufo, Executive Director, Technical Services, Barka Sajou and the
Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund, REF, Sa’adatu Balgore.

The statement said, “Furthermore, President Tinubu has ordered a wider investigation into the conduct of the aforementioned officials in a fraudulent misexpenditure amounting to over N1.2 billion over the past two years, some of which has already been recovered by anti-graft agencies.”

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has appointed Abba Abubakar Aliyu as the acting Managing Director/CEO.

The presidential spokesman in the statement said, “By the directive of the President, the following qualified Nigerians are appointed to serve in the new management team of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in acting capacity with immediate effect:

“Abba Abubakar Aliyu — Managing Director/CEO. “Ayoade Gboyega — Executive Director, Corporate Services. Umar Abdullahi Umar — Executive Director, Technical Services. Doris Uboh — Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF). Olufemi Akinyelure — Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project

“President Bola Tinubu expects 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 are entrusted to provide critical services to the Nigerian people.”