Reps to probe ex-NIIA boss over alleged reckless expenditure, abuse of office

TRACKING____The House of Representatives has decided to carry out a comprehensive probe into allegations the former Director General of the Nigeria Institute for International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Bola Akinterinwa over alleged reckless expenditure and abuse of office.

The House Committee on Public Accounts investigating failure of MDAs to submit audited account to the office of the Auditor General as required by law were stunned when the Director of Research of the institute, Abimbola Dada alleged that Prof. Akinterinwa incurred a lot of debts for the Institute arising from his alleged reckless spending on personal travels and contracts award without recourse to budgetary allocations or available funds.

The Director’s testimony was corroborated by the current DG, Prof. Bukar Bukarambe, as well as the Director of Finance and Admin, Mrs. Bridget Otoboh who said all the documents required have been made available to prove the allegations.

While conducting a status enquiry on the NIIA, the former DG had appeared before the House committee alleging that there a system of entrenched corruption and manipulation by those heading the account section of the Institute, saying it was responsible for the failure to render audited accounts for about 10 years.

Prof. Akinterinwa accused one Agatha Udeh, a former Director of Finance and Admin of the Institute of “unbridled corruption, insincerity and insubordination” alleging that she was aided by a former DG, Prof. Osita Eze and the then chairman, Governing Council, Sen. Ike Nwachukwu.

The former NIIA Boss also told the House Committee that the Institute lagged behind in submitting audited reports due to what he described as professional incompetence of the DFA, Udeh, adding that he had to write to the Auditor General Federation to send a seasoned accountant to manage the account department.

He claimed that the accountant sent to him by the Auditor General was equally frustrated out of the place, adding that when he reported the matter to the then Governing Council, led by Sen. Ike Nwachukwu and the response was, “Noted”!

He also accused the then Governing Council of colluding with some staff of the agency to perpetuate corruption even under his watch as DG, while informing them that his outstanding cliam of N4 million should be released to him.

However, the Director of Finance, Mrs Dada who was present alleged that while Prof. Akinterinwa, may be a brilliant individual, he was poor in leadership due to high handedness and abuse of office.

She recalled that a petition written and signed by herself and Agatha Udeh, as well as one other was the reason why his tenure as Director General was not renewed after his first tenure expired in 2015.

“The reason why the Institution did not pay the former DG his outstanding claims was because he engaged in reckless spending mostly on personal travels and tours without recourse to government financial regulation and as such could not be paid”, she said.

She also alleged that the former DG incurred a lot of debts which the Institute is presently struggling to clear, including fees to contractors he engaged to do certain works without budgetary allocations nor releases.

Chairman of the House Committee the Rep. Oluwole Oke said the allegations were too weighty to be overlooked, directing that Prof. Akinterinwa to submits his claims of N4 million debt and the current DG (Prof. Bukarembe), should also submits his own defense as to why he shouldnt be paid.

The panel however ruled that a probe be carried out to clear the issues raised and make recommendations as appropriate, while directing the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to as a matter of necessity separate the Finance department from that of Administration.

Chairman Wole Oke noted that there is no way a single individual would be in charge of funds as well as the power to recommend hiring, discipline and even firing of staff without abusing such power.