President Bola Tinubu has placed the Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad-led executives of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) on an indefinite suspension over alleged corruption..

A statement by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, on Thursday, said Mr Tinubu suspended Mr Ahmad-led management team over a N1.2 billion corruption case.

The presidency said on Thursday that Mr Ahmad was suspended indefinitely alongside, Olaniyi Alaba Netufo, the Executive Director, Corporate Services; Barka Sajou, Executive Director, Technical Services, and Sa’adatu Balgore, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF), over the N1.2 billion scandal.

Furthermore, President Tinubu has ordered a wider investigation into the conduct of the aforementioned officials in a fraudulent mis-expenditure amounting to over N1.2 billion over the past two years, some of which has already been recovered by anti-graft agencies,” the statement read in part.


New management team

In the place of the suspended executives, President Tinubu appointed a new acting management team headed by Abba Aliyu as the Managing Director/CEO of the agency.

The rest of the new acting executive officers are: yoade Gboyega, Executive Director, Corporate Services; Umar Abdullahi Umar, Executive Director, Technical Services; Doris Uboh, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF); and Olufemi Akinyelure, Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project.

Read the presidency’s statement in full here.

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT TINUBU SUSPENDS RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AGENCY MANAGING DIRECTOR AND TEAM FROM OFFICE

In the light of new findings unearthed during a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), President Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, alongside three Executive Directors of the Agency, from office:

(1) Olaniyi Alaba Netufo — Executive Director, Corporate Services

(2) Barka Sajou — Executive Director, Technical Services

(3) Sa’adatu Balgore — Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF)

Furthermore, President Tinubu has ordered a wider investigation into the conduct of the aforementioned officials in a fraudulent misexpenditure amounting to over N1.2 billion over the past two years, some of which has already been recovered by anti-graft agencies.

By the directive of the President, the following qualified Nigerians are appointed to serve in the new management team of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in acting capacity with immediate effect:

(1) Abba Abubakar Aliyu — Managing Director/CEO

(2) Ayoade Gboyega — Executive Director, Corporate Services

(3) Umar Abdullahi Umar — Executive Director, Technical Services

(4) Doris Uboh — Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF)

(5) Olufemi Akinyelure — Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project

President Bola Tinubu expects all appointees in his administration to uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties and reiterates his determination to elevate the yearnings of Nigerians for good governance and qualitative service delivery above the narrow interests of individuals who are entrusted to provide critical services to the Nigerian people.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

March 7, 2024