New Year trouble for top government official Oluwatoyin Beckley, 7 others over N279m contract

macfranc007 January 03, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Eromosele Ebhomele

- The director-general of the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA), Moses Oluwatoyin Beckley, is reportedly in trouble over alleged phony contracts

- Officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested and prosecuted him and seven other top officials of the agency

- The EFCC is said to have recovered about N135, 567,047 out of the N279.6 million

Officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have reportedly uncovered the alleged award of N279,675,796 phony contracts at the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) and arrested its director-general, Moses Oluwatoyin Beckley, as well as seven others.

The Nation gave the names of those arrested as the deputy director (Account), Hauwa Ibrahim; Mary Abioye (Central Processing Officer); Ajayi F Alaba (Assistant director, head, Internal Auditor); Jonathan Mbachi (Assistant chief executive officer Accounts); Banwo Oladele Oluwale (chief accountant); Joseph Awe Olufemi (head, Salary); and David Okon Williams (chief executive officer, Accounts).

Apart from these officials, the EFCC is said to have interrogated the owner of Full Range Bureau de Change into whose account N130 million was allegedly paid.

Due to the interrogation, NAIJ.com learnt that the detectives have recovered about N135, 567,047 out of the N279.6 million, according to a source, who was privy to the investigation.

“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.

According to another source, “the petitioner alleged that the director-general of the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA), Moses Oluwatoyin Beckley conspired with the deputy director, account, 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.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app

“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.”

NAIJ.com earlier reported how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accused former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, of stealing the sum of $15.5m from the federal government and its agencies.

The commission made the allegation before the Federal High Court in Lagos in its defence to her suit challenging the freezing of her accounts, The Nation reports.

Primate Ayodele releases 2018 prophecies, lists Nigeria's future presidents - on NAIJ.com TV