By Danladi Ahmed
Abuja (Flowerbudnews): Some Nigerians have urged the Federal Government to beam searchlights on some government agencies in a bid to rid the country of corruption and terrorism financing.
They claimed that there was financial misconduct and other irregularities being perpetrated by some of the government appointees, noting that there is a need for the government to act fast.
Mr Mustapha Ismail cited the alleged reported case of Mr Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, who was allegedly being trailed by the EFCC and the ICPC over allegations bothering on alleged diversion of public funds to the tune of N7.6billion.
He alleged that apart from reported gross financial misconduct at the office, he was also said to have been fraternising with some disgruntled politicians and perceived enemies of the administration of President Bola Tinubu and vowed to make sure that the President is not re-elected come 2027.
Ismail however, urged the government to move fast in order to counter those allegedly plotting against it, adding that many of such appointees have been having meetings with others in their offices.
He noted that some of the escalated insecurity might not be unconnected to free source of funding by some of the appointees who were not pleased with the administration of President Tinubu.
According to him, now, based on the people’s opinion, the government needs to shine a searchlight on those appointees who are perceived to be diverting government funds.
Mrs Cecilia Danjuma, in her opinion, urged the government to monitor closely those seen to be diverting public funds for other uses.
She said that many of the appointees were said to be doing everything possible to silence investigations bothering on financial misconduct and terrorism financing.
It would be recalled that the EFCC and its anti-corruption counterpart, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), had allegedly grilled (TETFUND) Echono over alleged diversion of public funds.
It was learnt that from staff of the Agency that further investigation revealed that some scandalous projects were never executed and that it was after it became public that the Human Resource Department of the agency organized a one day training at the newly built audithorium to cover it up.
The Executive Secretary is also being alleged to have engaged in project racketeering and denying staff some of their entitlement such as training and others.
Sources from the anti-corruption agencies who preferred to be anonymous confirmed that the former Permanent Secretary was in ICPC’s custody from August 24 till 25th. (Flowerbudnews)
