Abuja Markets MD Remains Sacked – FCTA

Seventeen days after the shareholders of Abuja Markets Management Limited sacked the managing director, Abubakar Usman Faruk, he is yet to quit the office.

Faruk was removed as the AMML MD by the shareholders in an official resolution passed on July 17, 2023, and directed to stop parading himself as chief executive of the firm.

But instead of leaving the office, he dismissed seven of the key members of staff and published a disclaimer in the dailies.

Reacting to the disclaimer allegedly authored by AMML, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL) disowned the sack of the officials and the disclaimer.

In a notice jointly signed by FCTA and AICL, they said, “The attention of the shareholders and directors of Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) has been drawn to a purported publication on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 to the effect that AMML has disengaged some staff as suggested on the said publications.

“This disclaimer notice is made to debunk the said publication dismissing the said management staff as false and not authorised by either the management, board of directors or shareholders of AMML.”

They stated that the board was aware that one Alhaji Abubakar Usman Faruk whose appointment as managing director of AMML was effectively terminated via a letter dated July 17, 2023 has continued to purportedly impersonate the office of the MD (AMML).

They therefore maintained that the termination of Faruk’s employment as the MD of AMML remains in force having been effectively removed from office.

Some concerned shareholders have alleged that Faruk is using the name of the national security adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and others as his backers and would remain in office.

They said he also flaunts a court order purportedly reinstating him three years after he was redeployed by the immediate past FCT minister Malam Mohammed Bello following issues surrounding development of market stalls opposite Area 7 UTC Shopping Complex.