The federal government has issued a query to Mohammed Bello,
permanent secretary of the ministry of science and technology, over alleged
financial misconduct.
In a letter dated May 11 and signed by Folasade Yemi-Esan,
head of service of the federation, Bello was alleged to have engaged in acts of
misconduct while he was the permanent secretary of the federal ministry of
agriculture and rural development.
The permanent secretary was accused of not paying eligible
contractors despite the budgetary release of N98 billion to the agriculture
ministry in 2018.
He was alleged to have used the entire 2019 first-quarter
release of N7 billion to pay for the 2018 contracts that were already funded.
“The attention of Mr. President has been drawn to the acts
of serious misconduct against you in your former post as the Permanent
Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on which
he has given further directive,” the query read.
“Specifically, it was alleged that in spite of the budgetary
release of the N98,405,763,678.68 in 2018, (which represents 99.44 of 2018
appropriation) you did not take necessary action to pay the eligible
contractors which led to the Ministry having an outstanding contractual
liability in the sum 0f N48,429,543,895.72;
“Under your leadership as the Accounting Officer, the
Ministry utilised the entire 2019 first-quarter release of N7,737,208,135.18 to
pay for the 2018 contracts that were fully funded In 2018 which constitutes
virement without authority,
“As Accounting Officer, you oversaw a transaction for the
purchase of a building for the use of the Ministry at the sum of
N7,o44,746,264.06 without the conduct of the mandatory statutory structural and
mechanical integrity tests; and prior approval 0f the FCDA Public Building
Department; the building was eventually found to be an uncompleted carcass
requiring billions of Naira to complete and make safe for occupation;
“Under your watch as the Accounting Officer. the Ministry
procured seven deep drilling rigs for borehole at an average cost of
N300,000,000.00 without recourse to the Federal Executive Council;
“And in April 2019, you gave out the seven rigs procured at
over N1.3 billion Naira to some individuals under fraudulent arrangements,
without the approval of the Minister; and one of the rigs linked to you is yet
to be returned despite several written reminders; and you misplaced the
intervention funds approved for the purchase of strategic grains and the
establishment of the Rural Grazing Area Settlements in violation of extant
Financial Regulations.”
The head of service said the allegations could lead to the
dismissal of the permanent secretary if he is proved guilty.
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