Tinubu Suspends REA MD, 3 Directors over alleged N1.2bn Fraud 

*Directs further probe of the four officials

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

President Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension from office of the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad.

Also suspended are three Executive Directors of the Agency namely Olaniyi Alaba Netufo, Executive Director, Corporate Services;  Barka Sajou, Executive Director, Technical Services and Sa’adatu Balgore, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF).

Presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, in a release issued on Thursday, said the suspension of the management team was in view of new findings unearthed during a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)

President Tinubu has also 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.

By the directive of the President, five other qualified Nigerians have been appointed with immediate effect to serve in the new management team of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in acting capacity.

The new appointees are 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)

and Olufemi Akinyelure — Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project.

President 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.