- Two Dismissed Top Officials Face 7- Year Jail Term
In a dramatic move that has sent fears down the spine of many top government officials , President Muhammadu Buhari has wielded the big stick, and terminated the appointment of the registrar of the National Examination Council(NECO), Professor Charles Uwakwe and four others for various offences ranging from fraud, corrupt enrichment, violation of due process, breach of public procurement laws and contravention of public service rules.
Prof Uwakwe’s sack and the outright dismissal from public service of four management staff indicted by an investigative panel instituted to probe allegations of massive financial impropriety, falsification of public records, violation of sections 58(5)(a) and (b) of the Public Procurement Act (2007), and other acts tantamount to gross dereliction of duties has been hailed as a welcome development.
Some who reacted it said the anti-corruption war of the APC-led government is now back on course. Recall that Uwakwe and four other NECO management officials were reported to have awarded contracts to the tune of N25 billion without following due process and also acting in manner that amounted a clear breach of the federal government’s public procurement Act.
In a statement issued by Azeez Sani of the Public Relations Uni t of NECO, the ministry of education named the affected four management staff as Bamidele Olure( Finance and Accounts) Shina Adetona(Procurement Division) Tayo Odukoya and Babatunde Aina of Legal department.
According to the Ministry, Adetona is not only being dismissed from service, he is also to be prosecuted ” in line with section section 58(5) (a&b) of the public procurement Act(PPA)(2007) for flagrant violation of PPA 2007 as Head of Procurement and misleading Management on procurement.”
Similarly, Vanguard reports that Odukoya is also to be prosecuted for flagrant violation of the public procurement Act(2007) in line with section 58(5)(a) and (b).
Legal experts in litigation terrain of Law maintain that proven cases of fraud against government officials by prosecuting agencies attract about seven to eight years jail term. In effect, both Odukoya and Adetona if found guilty by designated prosecuting agencies, they both risk serving various jail terms ranging from seven to eight years respectively.
Sources told The New Diplomat that this latest development has triggered serious fears among many top government officials who are apprehensive that they could now be readily made to face the law should they caught on the wrong side of the law.
This brings to an end to a long dragging saga that has seen Uwakwe been on suspension by the Federal Government since May 2018, over alleged financial mismanagement and abuse of office.
His sack and that of the other four officials of the council was confirmed in a statement on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. A letter, dated May 11, and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, stated that Uwakwe was accused of violating the Public Procurement Act (2007) and pursuant to PSR 030402 and Part 1 schedule 4 (i) of NECO Establishment Act.
Echono said, “After due consideration of the investigative panel on the allegation of unsatisfactory conduct levelled against you and some management staff of the council, Mr President in the exercise of his powers, has approved your removal as the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of National Examinations Council with effect from the date of your suspension from duty.”
The former registrar was also asked to hand over all the government property in his custody to Mr. Abubakar Gana, the acting Registrar.
