Secrets Reporters
In a case of corruption, conflict of interest and breach of public service rules, a serving civil servant, Abubakar Musa Yola, has been exposed as part of the key management personnel of a private company, Isobaric Energy Limited, which was used to secure a contract worth millions of naira from the Kaduna State Government, thereby violating the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Nigerian Constitution, Specifically, Paragraph 1 of the Fifth Schedule, Part I of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that: “A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.” In addition, Paragraph 2(b) further provides that: “A public officer shall not, except where he is not employed on a full-time basis, engage or participate in the management or running of any private business…”
It was discovered that Musa, a senior research officer at the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, while in active capacity, used a private company, Isobaric Energy Limited, to receive a contract worth ₦11,813,862.00 from the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
The contract awarded by the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board was for lot “19/B12: construction of a block of 3 classrooms (conventional building) at UBE UNG. Dogari, Jaba LGA”.
Documents in our disposal revealed that the illegal contract was awarded on January 14, 2020, the year that the deadly COVID-19 virus rocked the world.
Findings revealed that the company, Isobaric Energy Limited was incorporated on July 30, 2015, with registration number 1277203. The company registered address is DC 52 Bello Sabon Kudi Road, Dawaki.
The company has four key management personnel, by the names; Abdulrahman Ibrahim Madugu, Ahmad Musa Muhammad, Abubakar Magaji Bello, Aliyu Bappah Mahmud, Abubakar Magaji Bello and Abubakar Musa Yola.
According to public data accessed by this online media, Abubakar Musa Yola is a senior research officer at the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute.
The misuse of office for financial benefits is a clear breach of ethical standards and legal provisions meant to ensure accountability in governance.
Experts believe that such practices not only weaken public confidence in government organisations but also give undue advantages to insiders. The continued presence of corruption in public procurement remains a major challenge in Nigeria, undermining efforts toward economic development and good governance.