AMAC Dismisses Group’s Allegation Of Fraud

​The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has refuted the allegations of embezzlement of public fund by a group, “Concerned Citizens of the FCT,” saying the claim was highly inflammatory and unsubstantiated.

​AMAC Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, in rejecting the allegations, said they were not only false but based on fundamental misunderstanding of the revenue collection structure within the FCT.

The group had raised an alarm over what they described as massive scheme of embezzlement within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), alleging that billions of naira in public revenue were being systematically stolen.

The allegations bordered on AMAC’s Signpost Advert Revenue Unit, which the group accused of collecting funds without remittance to the council, leading to an estimated annual revenue loss put at ₦3 billion.

Convener of the group, Dr Joel Dipo, claimed that the complaint was filed on behalf of “concerned taxpayers,” a matter already before the Court of Appeal.

“There is a fraud going on in the FCT perpetrated in the advertising industry. The Federal Capital Territory is losing an annual revenue of about ₦3 billion to miscreants, with whom they have a sharing formula,” he said.

However, in a statement on Monday, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to the AMAC Chairman, Kingsley Madaki, described the allegations as not only baseless but unrealistic.

“These hyperbolic figures are designed only to mislead the public.
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“The faceless group incorrectly attempts to legalise the FCT Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS) as the sole legal MDA to regulate Signpost Outdoor Advert in FCT.

“This is in direct contrast to the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which vests Area Councils with the right to certain levies.
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“The direct accusations against the AMAC Chairman regarding Signpost Revenue is a mere political campaign against a performing Chairman or a clear attempt at intimidation designed to force the Chairman to empower DOAS’s illegal operations,” Madaki said.
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He added that there are court judgments that legally stopped the AMAC Chairman from recognising DOAS or signing any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DOAS.

​Madaki further suspected the group was being “bankrolled by the illegal agents of DOAS and certain key officials of DOAS who own the majority of billboards in the FCT.”

“This is reportedly led by Engr. Tunde Babadiya, a staff of DOAS who also owns Media Outcome Ltd, and Mr. Ebere Nwaokocha of Sence Mega Company Ltd.
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“We have concluded arrangements to send all relevant publications and details to security agencies to ascertain the true motives of this group and its sponsors, and to serve as a deterrent to others attempting to distract the Council”.

​Madaki further expressed AMAC administration’s commitment to transparency and effective management of all public funds for community development.

He urged the public and media to treat what he called sensational allegations “with the skepticism they deserve.”