A civil society organisation, Coalition to Save Education in Nigeria (COSEN), has decried what it called ‘undue silence’ by anti-graft agencies over corruption allegations against a former Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), Prof. Sani Abubakar-Mashi.
COSEN’s Director of Operations, Kamsi Ezenwa, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, lamented that despite several petitions by concerned Nigerians, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) were yet to take action on the allegations against the former NiMET DG.
The CSO claimed that during the period leading to Mashi’s removal in early 2021, he was regularly visiting the anti-graft agencies to answer to allegations of fraud, embezzlement and violating public service rules, among other things.
“The most damning of the petitions, according to credible sources in one of the anti-graft agencies, was the one reportedly filed by one Mukhtar Sirika, which immediate consequence is believed to be directly responsible for Mashi’s sudden sack, only a few months after his tenure had been renewed.
“An Aviation sector publication, Nigerian FLIGHTDECK has similarly reported that Mashi was alleged to have diverted COVID-19 funds approved for NiMET, engaged in reckless depletion of the internally generated revenue of the agency and awarded of inflated contracts without due approval,” the statement noted.
COSEN expressed dismay that almost four years after his sack, and despite what it described as “tons of evidence” against him, Mr Mashi has not been made to account for what the group insisted were “several, serious allegations” against him.
“It, therefore, called on the two anti-corruption bodies to “do the needful and ensure that within the shortest possible time cases against Prof. Mashi are given the full attention that they deserve and the law is allowed to take its course,” he added.
Ezenwa stated that it was unfortunate, unacceptable and a matter of concern that persons with questions to answer are allowed to hold or aspire for positions of responsibility, in direct reference to Prof. Mashi’s recent unsuccessful bid to become vice chancellor of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja).
“Persons with dubious or tainted past, and those under investigation for graft and alleged financial misconduct must be barred from vying for elective and appointive positions, as this is against public morality and the public good, and is a violation of the principles of natural justice, equity and good conscience,” Ezenwa added.
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