CSO calls for arrest, prosecution of REA former Director over alleged embezzlement of N12 billion COVID-19 fund

A Civil Society Organisation, CSO has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to arrest and prosecute a former Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, Sulaiman Bolakale Kadu Agaka over alleged diversion and embezzlement of COVID-19 fund to the sum of N12 billion.

The CSO said the fund was meant for the Rural Electricication project, but diverted by the former Director, who unfortunately has not been arrested since leaving office.

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In a statement issued on Wednesday by organization operating under the aegis of the Movement for Public Accountability, MPA, and signed by its president, Akinwale Lawal, said the probe and prosecution will serve the interest of the nation that is grappling with corruption.

The CSO said, though, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, have already taken steps to prosecute some officials of the agency for corruption, those arraigned appear to be the “foot soldiers” rather than the architects of the rot.

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The ex-Director, the group insisted, supervised projects, procurement and monitoring during the period, which he used the opportunity to divert the fund and he must be made to account for how such large-scale diversions occurred.

“Engr. Agaka cannot continue to wear the garb of neutrality when billions vanished in departments directly under his supervision. He owes Nigerians answers, and those answers must be demanded by the EFCC and ICPC,” Comrade Lawal said.

The group alleged that funds earmarked to power rural schools, health centres and small businesses were instead diverted through fraudulent procurement processes and questionable consultant contracts.

It accused Agaka of presiding over an environment where contract splitting, diversion through staff accounts, and the use of substandard materials became entrenched.

MPA said the consequences of this mismanagement remain visible across the country, where many rural communities are still in darkness despite budgetary allocations.

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