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Home Uncategorized Reps to Probe ex-NIIA Boss for ‘Reckless Expenditure, Abuse of Office’

Reps to Probe ex-NIIA Boss for ‘Reckless Expenditure, Abuse of Office’

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Prof. Bola Akinterinwa
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Reps to Probe ex-NIIA Boss for ‘Reckless Expenditure, Abuse of Office’

The House of Representatives has said it will probe former Director-General of Nigeria Institute for International Affairs (NIIA) Prof. Bola Akinterinwa over allegations of reckless expenditure and abuse of office

Director of Research Abimbola Dada told the House Committee on Public Accounts that Prof. Akinterinwa incurred  debts, from reckless spending on travels and contracts awarded without recourse to budgetary allocations or available funds.

The committee is investigating the failure of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to submit audited accounts to the Office of the Auditor-General.

Dada’s testimony was corroborated by the current Director General, Prof. Bukar Bukarambe, and Director of Finance and Admin, Mrs. Bridget Otoboh, who said documents required had been provided to prove the allegations.

Akinterinwa had appeared before the committee, during a status inquiry on NIIA, saying there was a system of entrenched corruption and manipulation in the account department. This, he said, was responsible for his failure to render audited accounts for about 10 years.

He accused a former Director of Finance and Admin, Agatha Udeh, of ‘unbridled corruption, insincerity and insubordination’, alleging that she was aided by a former Director General, Prof. Osita Eze, and then Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Ike Nwachukwu.

The former NIIA chief added that the institute lagged behind in submitting audited reports due to Udeh’s incompetence, adding that he had to write to the federal auditor-general to send another accountant to manage the department. He, however, said the new accountant was equally frustrated out of the place, and when he reported to the then Governing Counci, the response he got was ‘Noted’.

He accused the then Governing Council of colluding with some workers to perpetuate corruption, saying his outstanding N4 million claim should be released to him.

But Dada alleged that while Prof. Akinterinwa might be a brilliant individual, he was poor in leadership due to high handedness and abuse of office. She recalled that a petition by herself, Udeh, and one other person, was the reason his tenure as director-general was not renewed after his first tenure expired in 2015.

“The reason why the institute did not pay the former director general his outstanding claims was because he engaged in reckless spending, mostly on personal travels and tours, without recourse to government financial regulation, and as such should not be paid.”

Committee Chair Oluwole Oke said the allegations were too weighty to be overlooked. He directed Akinterinwa to submit his claims of N4 million debt. Prof. Bukarembe was also told to submit his defence as to why Akinterinwa shouldn’t be paid.

The panel, however, ruled that a probe be carried out to clear the issues and make recommendations, while directing the federal head of civil service to separate the Finance Department from Administration.


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