A civil society group has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Engineer Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the executive secretary of the the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for alleged fraud.
The group, Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance (CCSGG), made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.
Speaking at the press conference, the convener of the group, Comrade Okpanachi Jacob, said it is aware of serious allegations regarding the mismanagement of public funds within the NCDMB under the leadership Felix Omatsola Ogbe.
According to Jacob, the NCDMB boss was alleged to have authorised the sum of N9.9 billion (approximately $6.6 million) consultancy services without following the appropriate legal and financial processes disbursed through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to a consultant, with no clear documentation or evidence that the consultant had met the criteria for receiving such a large financial outlay.
He also added that the NCDMB boss allegedly violated procurement laws, and regulations established under the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board Act and the Public Procurement Act, saying “These serious infractions call into question his fitness to continue in public office, given the significant implications for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability.”
“The man approved the sum of N503 million for a workshop in London and as if that is not enough, he allegedly approved and disbursed more than N400 million for end of year party broken down into four tranches of N99 million each (documents attached) two of those approvals were for food and finger foods.”
Jacob, while expressing concern that the contract in question did not get the Federal Executive Council (FEC) clearance, NCDMB’s Governing Council’s approval and also lacking the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) clearance, wants the EFCC to conduct a comprehensive and independent investigation into the financial activities of Ogbe and the NCDMB, particularly focusing on the alleged misappropriation of N9.9 billion, audit the NCDMB’s financial records, examine the procurement processes and pursue legal and financial actions against Ogbe in accordance with Nigerian anti-corruption laws.
“We believe that the alleged actions of Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe represents a grave breach of trust and a serious violation of public finance management laws. We trust that the EFCC, as the foremost agency in combating financial crimes and corruption in Nigeria, will take immediate steps to investigate these allegations and ensure that those found guilty are held accountable.”