How Top Officials In Nigerian Government Shielded NABDA Director, Bartholomew Ibeh After Allegedly Diverting Public Funds Into Personal Account
Some government officials in the Ministry of Science and Technology including the Permanent Secretary, James Sule and Director of Human Resources Management, Mrs
Aileru Jumoke Abosede, have reportedly shielded the Director of Medical Biotechnology Department, Dr.Bartholomew Ibeh, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) from disciplinary actions after the payment of the money meant for capital projects was done into a private account, SaharaReporters has learnt.
This came after a report revealed that the NABDA leadership paid money meant for the capital projects into the private accounts of civil servants including the Director of Medical Biotechnology Department, Dr. Bartholomew, Ibeh in a clear violation of the Public Procurement Act.
The sum of N9,750,000 meant for the capital projects of the agency was paid into the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Account Number: 2034171014 belonging to Ibeh on November 28, 2018.
Findings by SaharaReporters revealed that the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology in connivance with the Director of Human Resources
Management allegedly deliberately refused to release the ministerial report on Dr. Ibeh to the Head of Service of the Federation despite the instruction from the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The Chief of Staff had directed the Head of Service of the Federation, who in turn wrote a letter dated July 18, 2023, to the Permanent Secretary, Fed Min of Science & Technology, requesting for the ministerial report on Dr Ibeh to enable the Head of Service to advise the President on the recommendations.
But in a bid to shield Ibeh from possible prosecution, the permanent secretary decided to ignore the directive and bury the ministerial report despite the instruction from the Chief of Staff.
Following a series of complaints against the activities of Dr Ibeh, the then Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, inaugurated a ministerial panel to investigate the crisis-ridden department of medical biotechnology and proffer solutions.
It was gathered that the ministerial committee conducted their investigation in August 2021 and submitted their report to the Minister in October 2021 but the permanent secretary had been holding on to the report till date.
The letter read “ RE: REQUEST FOR THE INTERVENTION OF THE HEAD OF THE CIVIL SERVICE OF THE FEDERATION CONCERNING THE ABYSMAL AND REPRESSIVE LEADERSHIP OF DR BARTHOLOMEW IBEH DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, LUGBE, ABUJA.
“I am directed to forward the attached petition by the Chairman, Senior Start Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) Branch on the above subject. The attachment is marked Annex 1. Similar petition was sent to Mr. President which the Chief of Staff to the President has directed the Head of Service of the Federation to examine. A copy of the letter from the Chief of Staff to the President is also attached and marked Annex.
“Going through the two petitions, it was found that the Ministry had earlier constituted a committee to look into the matter. It was further alleged that even though the committee had submitted its report, the Ministry has not acted on the recommendations.
“To assist the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to reply Mr. President, she has directed that a Certified True Copy of the Ministerial Committee’s Report under reference, and the Ministry’s action on same, should forwarded to this Office on or before Friday, 20th July, 2023.”
