Public funds that runs into several millions of naira is at risk of being frittered away under the guise of unearned terminal benefits, sources at Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc has disclosed.
The company which has suffered numerous financial infractions in the past, faces similar situation as its ousted MD/CEO, Marilyn Amobi has perfected plan to pay herself over half a billion naira as terminal benefit and welfare packages. This move, which is in gross abuse of civil rule, has triggered protests in the organisation.
President Muhammadu Buhari had recently approved Amobi’s sack as NBET, bringing to an end her controversial stint at the company. Her sack triggered widespread jubilation among staffs, who had severally accused Amobi of abuses, including misuse of public funds and maladministration in her near four years tenure.
But her final days in office is embroiled in a fresh financial scandal, as sources hinted that Amobi is reckless with spendings in the company, releasing huge amount of money for herself and cronies.
One source pointed out that Amobi recently approved the sum N15 million for herself as flight ticket cost to United States of America and pie-diem ahead of her exit from office.
Despite her indictment by the two main anti-graft agencies, EFCC and ICPC, Amobi continue to manipulate the board of NBET to utilize public funds in a reckless manner and put the treasury of the company in a tight condition.
On her terminal benefit, Amobi bypassed the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to award herself a humongous amount in violation of Public Service Rules and Financial Standard. Her abuse continues to rubbish the anti-graft fight of President Buhari and undermines the financial integrity of the company.
Disturbingly, Amobi was suspended in the December 2019 by the power minister, Saleh Mamman, for gross financial abuse, and had been indicted by anti-graft agencies, EFCC and ICPC. Apart from the two anti-graft agencies, Nigeria’s auditor-general also found Amobi culpable of maladministration.
In February 2019, reports she made controversial payments to law firms and other consultants.
Following similar pattern, Amobi, in the most controversial manner in 2018, approved the sum of N77 million upfront as six years furniture and rent grants when in fact she has less than three years to stay in office. Till date, she is yet to return balance to NBET account.
Insiders, however, noted that Amobi seem to be in a rush to cook books at NBET and conceal the truth about her tenure going by her recent moves to restrict workers from the company.
In a recent memo sanctioned by Amobi, she censored those allowed into office to only her cronies in a desperate bid to concoct data and remove files that are likely to expose her dealings when she vacates office.
There are palpable fears amid concerned staff of NBET that if she is not made to vacate the office IMMEDIATELY she will succeed in her sinister cover up moves which will lead to destruction of valuable NBET documents causing a resultant financial loss in billions not to mention a litany of court cases against NBET for missing or destroyed contract documents.
