Misappropriation: President Buhari queries former Agric PS

·       Ps says no case to answer

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered that a query be issued to the former Permanent Secretary (PS), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) Dr. Mohammed Bello for not acting in accordance to the dictate of N98,405,763.678.68 budgetary release for year 2018 that led to contractual liability of N48,429,543.895.72 with other allegations on procurement of uncompleted building worth about N7bn ,  and  diversion of fund meant for strategic grains and rural grazing settlement .

This was contained in letter dated 11^th, May 2020, signed by the head of service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi- Esan, which has been delivered with a response already given by the embattled PS.

The letter as instructed by President Buhari has alleged Dr. Bello of utilising the entire 2019 first quarter release of N7.737.208.135.18 to pay for the 2018 contracts that is fully assumed to have  been already funded, thereby describing the action as ‘’ virement without authority’’

Also the former permanent secretary was asked to explain the reason for the purchase of a carcass building for the ministry that worth N7, 044.746.264.06 without a proper validation that would still require billions of naira to put the said property in order for use. 

He was also to respond to why the ministry without appropriate order from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) procured seven deep drilling rigs for boreholes at an average cost N300,000.000.00 just as the same rigs were fraudulently given out to some individuals (including the PS)) without any recourse to the minister’s permission.

Finally, Dr. Bello was accused of misapplication of the intervention funds approved for the purchase of strategic grains and the establishment of the rural grazing area settlements, asking him to explain why N 2,026.838.775.25 was used to pay contractors, and  N3, 527.300.419.06  for payment of questionable contracts awarded under the 2018 appropriation which is not related to the purpose of the fund.

However, in his response letter dated 14^th May, 2020 the current PS, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, said all the allegations were not correct,  saying both the EFCC and ICPC had earlier waded into the matter especially on the building procurement without finding any fault, and that  all his actions were in accordance to the due process of the civil service cum approvals from both the present minister, Alhaji Sabo Nanono  and even the Federal Executive Council (FEC).  

He said all contractors whose contracts were captured in the 2018 budgetary allocation were well paid while those still  ongoing were rolled over  which according to him was not a new thing in the ministry as regards  contract management , adding that the contract liability as at his departure was not N48. 429,543, 895.72.    

On the building procurement, the former PS said that the process started with an expression of interest forwarded by a company which the( name was not mentioned in the letter)  to the Minister, and which consequently led to the visit of the building by the management of the ministry while approval for procurement was given upon setting up a committee of relevant directors with the involvement of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing for approval on valuation/determination of the building price with integrity test that was simultaneously  carried out.

He further explained that all land search entitlements were all obtained to ensure due process in both Bureau of Public Procurement and Abuja Lands Department (AGIS) before submission for recommendation by the Minister of Agriculture for approval from FEC via the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The former permanent secretary also debunked all other allegations saying none of the seven deep drilling rigs for borehole were given to any individual under any form of fraudulent arrangement, but rather to organizations with strict compliance to government policy on Agro- Rural Water Supply Support Initiative (A-RUWASSI).