Tinubu Suspends MD, Rural Electrification Agency and Three Others Over Alleged N1.2b Fraud

Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, has been suspended by President Bola Tinubu.

The president has suspended three agency executive directors, according to a statement released Thursday by presidential spokeswoman Ajuri Ngelale, who confirmed the move.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), along with three other agency executives, from office, according to a statement. This decision is based on new findings that were discovered during a comprehensive investigation into the agency’s financial activities.

Directors of Corporate Services: Olaniyi Alaba Netufo; Directors of Technical Services: Barka Sajou; and Directors of the Rural Electrification Fund (REF): Sa’adatu Balgore.

“President Tinubu has directed a more comprehensive probe into the actions of the officials in question about a waste of more than N1.2 billion in the last two years, with some of that money having been recouped by anti-graft authorities.”

In an interim management role, Tinubu named five competent Nigerians to the agency’s board of directors after the suspension.

Who are they? Abba. Ayoade Gboyega, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Doris Uboh, Olufemi Akinyelure, and Abubakar Aliyu are the new executive directors of various departments within the company. Doris serves as executive director of the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), while Umar is executive director of technical services.

In his remarks, he urged the newly appointed officials to do their jobs with the utmost honesty and responsibility.

Furthermore, the president reaffirmed his resolve to prioritise the needs of the Nigerian people for effective leadership and high-quality public services over the self-serving ambitions of those in charge of these vital sectors.