Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority MD, Saheed Aremu
By Our Reporter
A group, Agricwatch Alliance has accused President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari of shielding the Managing Director of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA), Dr. Engr. Saheed Aremu, who is facing corruption allegations.
The group alleged that Gambari has been frustrating the corruption case against Aremu by using the minister of water resources among other top government functionaries to protect him.
This is contained in a statement jointly signed by the coordinator of the group, Alhassan Muhammad and its scribe, Bode Bosun, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Thursday.
The group appealed to Mr. President to prove the integrity of his administration by ensuring a full-scale investigation into the allegations against Aremu and ensure that justice is done. It, however, threatened legal action if the President fails to act.
The statement reads in part, “We have observed that the anti-corruption crusade of the present administration under the APC (All Progressives Congress) government is feign and selective.
“Our letter dated June 26th, 2022 calling on the Government to take necessary action on the issue of corruption allegations against Engr. Aremu was given deaf ears. We also asked the Government to monitor the activities of the agency across the country to curb wasteful budgetary spending and maladministration.
“The information we gathered was that the alleged MD is gallivanting in office and developing immunity through a compromised system. we learned the ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Other Related Offences) invited him a few months ago over a petition concerning embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds.
“The petition emanated as a result of projects that were awarded at the agency for execution in Anambra state but unfortunately the project was abandoned despite the payment for it”
“This was among other corruption allegations against the MD but we’re disenchanted that the government hasn’t deemed it fit to order him to step aside for full investigation.
“We got information that the COS, Prof. Gambari has been frustrating the corruption case against him by covering him by dictating for the Minister of Water Resources among other top government functionaries to protect him.
“We are appealing to Mr. President to prove the integrity of his administration by ensuring a full investigation into Dr. Aremu’s case to ensure that justice is achieved.”l
