Exclusive…Code of Conduct Bureau boils over alleged missing N2.5bn

Some staff members of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) are up in arms with Mr. Sam Saba, chairman of the body that is supposed to act as a watchdog over public officers in the country. They contend that certain conducts in the organization run contrary to the ideals for which it was established.

The Bureau under the Saba-led Board has been battling a crisis of confidence lately, with allegations in some quarters that Saba may have turned the Bureau into a personal estate, what with scandals involving over N2.5billion, a job scam and other infractions.

These allegations are contained in a two page petition, copies of which were obtained by Ripples. Dated Tuesday, May 5th, 2015, under the heading: ‘Corruption War Buhari Must Fight: Case Study of Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB)’ written by one Fatoki Taiye Timmy on behalf of the aggrieved staff, it blew the whistle on what they dubbed the “uninspiring leadership style” of the Saba-led Board.

In the petition replete with sarcasms, the staff observed that: “At a time the whole world is celebrating Nigeria and her people, some gluttons in the name of board members are milking the nation. Interestingly, this is the same agency established over 20 years ago to be watchdog over public officers.”

Sins committed by the Saba-led Board, according to the staff, include incapacitation of the accounting officer of the Bureau with Saba serving as both Chairman and Accounting Officer. The Chairman and other Board members they alleged, assigned departments to themselves in contravention of Section 155 (1) C of the Constitution.

They are also alleged to have monetised all their benefits, with each Board member receiving N14 million, even as Saba is alleged to have bought himself a Land Cruiser jeep and Prado jeeps for other members of his Board.

The staff are also asking what has become of the N2 billion meant for the CCB’s Headquarters building in Abuja, with no evidence of any work on site, just as they want to know what happened to the six Toyota corolla operational vehicles of the Bureau.

This is just as they alleged that certain people within the finance department, and board have been colluding with the Saba-led Board to divert funds to personal accounts allegedly run by Saba in the last few years.

Besides, the staff said, Saba needs to account for the over N500 million revenue generated by a subsidiary of the Bureau, Discovery Cycle Professionals for consultancy and other allied services in the last few years.

The staff further alleged that under Saba there have been all manner of phony recruitments with many ghost workers on the payroll of the Bureau.

Particularly worrisome to the staff, is the fact that the Bureau under Saba has since abdicated its avowed assets declaration and verifications responsibilities, thus further robbing the Nigerian populace of good governance by serving and prospecting public officers.

Saba is also alleged to be perpetuating himself in office in total disregard of Section 155 (1) C of the 1999 Constitution, as his tenure elapsed in April 2015. While he has prevailed on other Board members to resign their appointment, he has entrenched himself in office in perpetuity, the aggrieved staff maintained.

Ripples also gathered that the staff in their determination to get justice are already seeking legal redress.

Ripples can authoritatively report that their lawyer, Lawan Yaro, Head of Chambers, M.L. Ibrahim & Co, has since written petitions to the Saba-led Board as well as served copies to President Goodluck Jonathan, President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Service, all Board Members, all Directors and all Union Chairmen for further investigation.

As at the time of putting this report to bed, Saba was yet to respond to the allegations as he did not pick calls made to his mobile GSM number, 0803 596 3228, nor did he respond to text messages sent to the same number by Ripples.

The story is still unfolding. Don’t miss this space!

– Ali Smart

Ripples…without borders, without fears

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