N279m scam: EFCC grills agency’s chief, others

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Detectives have uncovered the alleged award of N279,675,796
phony contracts at a Federal Government agency.

Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) Director-General
Moses Oluwatoyin Beckley and seven others have been interrogated by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The others are the Deputy Director (Account), Mrs. Hauwa
Ibrahim; Mary Abioye (Central Processing Officer); Ajayi F. Alaba
(Asst. Director, Head, Internal Auditor); Jonathan Mbachi (Asst.
Chief Executive Officer Accounts); Banwo Oladele Oluwale (Chief
Accountant); Joseph Awe Olufemi (Head, Salary); and David Okon
Williams (Chief Executive Officer, Accounts).

Also interrogated is the owner of Full Range Bureau de Change
into whose account N130m was allegedly paid.

Detectives have recovered about N135, 567,047 out of the
N279.6million.

A source, who was privy to the investigation, gave the details
of how the fraud was allegedly perpetrated by a top official and
the staff of the accounts department.

The source said: “In the course of investigation, various sums
of money meant for capital projects were observed to have been
diverted by various staff of the Accounts Department as well as the
Director General of the agency, using their personal accounts or
their private companies.

“They hid under the guise of paying for projects/contracts that
were either non-existing or never executed. About N135, 567,047 has
been recovered and registered as exhibit.

“A summary of the amounts linked to each suspect and duly
admitted by the suspects in their cautionary statements are as
follows:

Moses Beckley (DG NIHSA) – N40,000,000.00
Hauwa Ibrahim (Deputy Director Accounts) – N49,112,502.00
Mary Abioye (Central Processing Officer) – N47,546,000.00
Ajayi F. Alaba (Asst. Director, Head, internal Auditor) –
N2,000,000.00
Jonathan Mbachi (Asst. Chief Executive Officer Accounts) –
N305,000.00
Banwo Oladele Oluwale (Chief Accountant) – N612,047.00
Joseph Awe Olufemi (Head, Salary) – N7,759,400.00
David Okon Williams (Chief Executive Officer Accounts) –
N2,340,847.00
The eight suspects may face trial.

“From the investigation carried out so far, a case of
conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds can be
established against the suspects,” the source said, adding:

“We are going to arraign all the suspects very soon after the
completion of our investigation.”

Another source said the EFCC acted on an anonymous petition
which revealed the rot in the agency. The petitioners alleged
conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds.

Said the source: “The petitioner alleged that the
Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency
(NIHSA), Mr. Moses Oluwatoyin Beckley conspired with the Deputy
Director, Account Mrs. Hauwa Ibrahim and some other staff of the
Account Department and diverted large amount of money meant for the
agency’s 2016 budget for their personal use.

“Upon receipt of the petition, the Director of Administration
and Finance of the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency was invited
and interviewed. The Chairman of the staff union of the agency was
also invited and interviewed.

“Staff of the account department were interviewed and their
various statements recorded under word of caution.

“Voluntary statements of some staff of the agencies involved for
2015 and 2016 were obtained from various banks and analysed.

“Information on various companies linked to the suspects were
also obtained from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

“A bureau de change owner, Full Range Bureau de Change whose
account the sum of N130m was paid into was interrogated.”

The Director General of the agency, Mr. Moses Oluwatoyin
Beckley, was interrogated and released on bail.