A Civil Society Organization (CSO) known as Trustees of Trust Field Empowerment Initiative has demanded for an enquiry into an alleged abuse of office against the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, bothering on financial impropriety, misappropriation of funds, violation of financial laws and regulations and breach of procurement laws.
Trustees of Trust Field Empowerment Initiative, in view of the various allegations is seeking to know amongst others, the approved threshold of the Commandant General and the total budget for each of the years 2019 to 2023
It also seeks to know If there is any approval from the Ministry of the Interior or any other delegated office for you to transact official business with an individual’s private bank account.
A copy of the originating summon, which was sighted by our correspondent on Friday was addressed to the Commandant General of NSCDC dated October 17, 2023.
The document which was signed by its Principal Counsel, Ejike Onukaogu, Esq of E.A Onukaogu & Co was titled: “ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE OF OFFICE, FINANCIAL IMPROPRIETY, MISAPPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS, VIOLATIONS OF FINANCIAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND BREACH OF PROCUREMENT LAWS: A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION UNDER THE FREEDOMOF INFORMATIONACT
Below are the details of the originating summon:
ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE OF OFFICE, FINANCIAL IMPROPRIETY, MISAPPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS, VIOLATIONS OF FINANCIAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND BREACH OF PROCUREMENT LAWS: A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
Our services have been retained and we now act as the legal representatives of the Registered
Trustees of Trust Field Empowerment Initiative, a Civil Society group duly registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act with the principal objective of mass empowerment, improvement of standard of living and better future for the people, public enlightenment and eradication of apathy in governance, access to justice and promotion of public awareness.
Our client has instructed us to write to you and to request the following information from your office in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2011.
I. What is the total budget for each of the years 2019 to 2023?
- If there is any approval from the Ministry of the Interior or any other delegated office for you to transact official business with an individual’s private bank account. If yes, a copy of such approval
- What is the approval threshold of the Commandant General?
- Was due process followed in the procurement process by the Corps, including adverts for contracts, bidding process, and the award of contracts?
- If the answer to (4) above is yes, we request for the records/evidence of such due process in the award of the following contracts to the following companies:
a. Stonebite Ventures Ltd: N33,928,57142 for the supply of 50 Nos of white canvas for newly recruited officers and men of the corps at the national headquarters of the NSCDC. 31/12/2019
b. Winaman Supplies & Logistics Ltd: N38,452,380.96, for the supply of 5000 Nos of red polo for the newly recruited officers and men of the NSDC. 31/122019
c. Tiny Works & Projects Services Ltd: 17,100,000.00 for the supply of 50kg bags of rice and 4 litres of groundnut oil to the NSDC HQ. 31/12/2019
- A copy of the contract award letters to each of the above companies and the bill of quantities in line with Financial Regulations for the awarded contracts and payments above.
- Were the above companies registered with PENCOM as required under the extant laws?
- Were the above companies duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission? If yes, kindly provide the CAC status reports of the ownership and management of these companies.
- What quantities of 50kg rice and groundnut oil were supplied in 5(c) above?
- It was reported in several online news publications an allegation that you borrowed money from a state governor’at a 20% interest rate and that you diverted the sum of Nine Billion Naira (N9,000,000,000.00) released for the welfare of NSCDC officers on election duty.
- There was also an allegation that you have a fleet of expensive luxury cars one of which is a 2023 model Rolls-Royce Cullinan with a market value of between $348,500 (N244million) and $401,500 (N28Imillion.
- It was also alleged that your wives who are also members of the Corps are the ones now awarding contracts without following due process and without authority.
- There’s also an allegation that you donated One Billion Naira (NI,000,000,000.00) as well as fifty vehicles to the Nasarawa State governor for his use during the last election campaigns.
- Finally, it was also alleged that you confiscated a huge size of land in Shinge, Lafia, Nasarawa State which you developed into a shopping mall and mega petrol filling station.
- We need clarifications on the above allegations in paragraphs 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 as well as the sources of your income that enabled you to carry out such huge capital projects and expenditures.
Our client is committed to helping bring sanity into the appropriation and expenditure of public funds and, cleansing the Augean stables of all forms of corrupt practices.paccess to the information requested for within 7 days. Note also that if at the expiry of the said time we do not receive any access to the information requested. our client may be at liberty without any further recourse to you to:
a. Approach the court for an application seeking judicial review of the denial
b. Approach the court for an application seeking an order of mandamus to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. the (‘ode of Conduct Bureau and. the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission for their necessary action.
c. Approach the National Assembly to investigate this matter
d. Address the media
Thank you in anticipation of your most favourable response. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.
PP: E.A ONUKAOGU & CO.
Below are copies of the documents:
