Scandal hits CCB as commissioners uncover how chairman blocked  investigation on  N109bn AGF’s fraud

ADEKUNLE ADESUJI, Abuja

The Code of Conduct Bureau ( CCB) is hit by fresh scandal as its commissioners have uncovered how the Chairman of the Bureau, Prof. Mohammed Isah ,  allegedly blocked investigation into the N109 billion fraud involving a former Accountant General of Federation,  Idris Ahmed .

Already, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the former AGF for N109 fraud , but it was discovered that the matter was brought to the attention of CCB and the Investigation was reportedly blocked by the Bureau chairman.

Alleged corrupt practices being perpetrated by the Chairman of the Bureau , was  unveiled by all the six federal commissioners running the anti – graft agency with him through petitions submitted to that effect to the Senate on Ethics , Privileges and Public Petitions .

The Commissioners led by Dr Emmanuel Attah , had in the jointly signed petition, alleged that the embattled Chairman of CCB had within the last four years been blocking required investigations on petitions against public officers with multi million and billion Naira assets , not stated in their assets declaration forms .

On the strength of the allegations against him, the CCB Chairman was to appear before  the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions last Friday but was absent while five out of the six commissioners were present .

Absence of the CCB Chairman however made the Chairman of the Committee , Senator Ayo Akinyelure to, with the consent of other members directed absentee Chairman to appear before the committee unfailingly on Thursday , 6th October , 2022 by 2:00pm prompt.

“The petition before this committee on allegations against the Chairman of Code of Conduct Bureau ( CCB) bordering on corrupt practices is worrisome and must be here to defend himself.

The seriousness of the matter lies on the fact that the petitioners are even the six federal commissioners appointed to be working with him in the fight against corruption .

“The Commissioners are here but the Chairman who is in the eye of the storm is not here. We have gone through all the issues raised in the jointly signed petition by the Commissioners and they are very disturbing if eventually proven. Therefore for fair hearing, we are re – inviting the Chairman to appear before this committee on Thursday , 6th October , 2022 unfailingly by 2:00pm prompt for require response or responses from him on all allegations leveled against him in the petition,” he said .

Addressing  journalists after the adjourned session, one of the Commissioners , Hon Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma along with other aggrieved Commissioners said they petitioned the Chairman to save CCB from self – inflicted incapacitation slammed on it by the Chairman. According to him, all the Commissioners and the Chairman  were appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to help in the war against corruption within the public service itself at all levels .

“The Chairman based on his conducts is not ready to fight the war in anyway but sabotage it by sitting on series of petitions written against corrupt public officers whose assets far outweighs what were declared in the Assets Declaration Forms .The N109billion loot linked to the now being investigated former Accountant General of the Federation , Ahmed Idris was first reported to CCB through petitions but prevented from being acted upon by the Chairman.

“We are ever ready to support Mr President’s war against corruption but very disturbed by the frustration being thrown into it in CCB by no less a person than the Chairman. We have written petition against him as declared by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions here today  and want him to meet us face to face before members of the committee for whatever defence he wants to make .

“Corruption  must be killed in Nigeria before it kills us and anybody not ready to join in the fight or war against it, should be shown the way out of public service particularly those saddled with responsibilities of curbing corrupt practices in the country like CCB”, he said .

Other Commissioners present at the briefing  were Professor Folorunsho Ogundare , Elder   Ubolo Okpanachi , Barrister Ben Nnana etc