Calls for Probe of Ex-REA Director Over Alleged N12bn COVID -19 Fund Diversion

Calls for Probe of Ex-REA Director Over Alleged N12bn COVID-19 Fund Diversion

 

 

 

Pressure is mounting on Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies to investigate Sulaiman Bolakale Kawu Agaka, a former executive director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), over allegations that more than N12 billion in COVID-19 intervention funds meant for rural electrification projects were misappropriated during his tenure.

 

The demand was made on Wednesday by the Movement for Public Accountability (MPA), a civil society organisation, through its president, Akinwale Lawal.

 

The group said a probe was critical to restoring public confidence and sending a clear message that senior officials cannot evade scrutiny simply by retiring from office.

 

According to the MPA, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have begun prosecuting some REA officials, those facing charges are merely “foot soldiers” rather than the masterminds behind the alleged mismanagement.

 

The organisation argued that Agaka, who supervised projects, procurement, and monitoring during the period, must 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,” Lawal said.

 

MPA alleged that funds intended to power rural schools, health centres, and small businesses were diverted through fraudulent procurement processes and questionable consultant contracts. The group also accused Agaka of presiding over a system rife with contract splitting, misappropriation through staff accounts, and the use of substandard materials.

 

“The consequences of this mismanagement remain visible nationwide, where many rural communities are still in darkness despite budgetary allocations,” Lawal added.

 

The group further urged the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to review Agaka’s asset declarations and compare them with his legitimate earnings, saying, “The wealth he now flaunts raises questions that must be answered. Nigerians have the right to know whether public funds meant for their development are underwriting his ambitions.”

 

MPA called for broader reforms to ensure that senior directors in public institutions are held accountable for actions under their watch. It stressed that retirement should not be a shield from responsibility and that the EFCC and ICPC must hold those with authority to prevent wrongdoing to the same standard as junior officials.

 

The group also demanded a forensic audit of all projects executed during Agaka’s tenure, including procurement records, project timelines, and payments to contractors, to establish whether he directly benefited from the alleged diversions.

 

Finally, MPA urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to demonstrate its anti-corruption stance by ensuring that no one, regardless of rank or connections, is beyond scrutiny. “This case will test whether Nigeria is serious about fighting corruption or merely interested in headlines. Agaka’s record must be placed under the microscope,” Lawal said.