The former Managing Director, Ahmad Salihijo, and the former Executive Director, Technical Services, Engr. Barka Sajou, can finally heave a sigh of relief as both have been cleared of any financial irregularities at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
However, criminal cases continue against other senior officials of the agency.
Recall that REA, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Power, came under investigation in 2023 following reports of irregular payment practices, misappropriation of funds and abuse of office.
It was gathered that the development led to internal and external probes into the agency’s procurement and payment processes.
It would be recalled that In March 2024, the Federal Government had announced the indefinite suspension of the former Managing Director and members of the executive management over concerns about weaknesses in financial controls and government systems at the agency.
Investigations by law enforcement agencies revealed that the alleged unauthorised payments were carried out allegedly by some top officials namely- the former Director of Finance, the former Director of Human Resources, and some senior accounts staff.
The payments were said to have been processed without the required approvals and internal audit clearance, in breach of financial regulations.
Court filings indicated that charges were filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja against the affected finance and accounts officials, leading to arrests, arraignments, remand orders and asset forfeiture proceedings.
However, the court granted interim forfeiture orders on properties linked to proceeds of the alleged fraud, with investigators tracing the assets to funds allegedly diverted through compromised payment processes and routed through personal and proxy accounts.
Throughout the investigation and prosecution, former MD Salihijo and ED Sajou were not listed as defendants and were not named on any charge sheets issued by the law enforcement agencies.
Findings also showed that while several REA officials are facing trial for alleged fraud, conspiracy and diversion of public funds, there are no criminal charges against the former Managing Director and the former Executive Director nearly two years after the investigations began.
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