By Kassim Omomia
Ex- Chair Governing Board of Project Development Institute, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, located in Enugu state, Daniel Onjeh, has threatened to drag the House of Representatives to court over series of allegations levelled against him
PRODA is currently under probe by the House Committee on Public Procurement, over allegations bothering ’on procurement deception, staff victimization and ongoing management problem”
At the inaugural panel sitting, several allegations were levelled against Mr Onjeh who had earlier been asked to step aside by President Muhhamadu Buhari in a memo signed by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to Government of the Federation
Recall that at the inception of the PRODA crisis, PresidentMuhammadu Buhari approved the suspension of Charles Agulanna, the then director-general of the Institute (PRODA), for alleged corruption and subsequently directed comrade Daniel Onjeh, chairman of the institute’s governing board to step aside.
The memo, with reference number SGF.6/S.19/T/211, dated November 5, which conveyed the suspension signed by Boss Mustapha, the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) and addressed to Ogbonnaya Onu, the minister of science and technology, also stated that Mr. Daniel Onjeh, chairman of the institute’s governing board has been directed to step aside.
But the House after listening to testimonies and submissions from stakeholders that were summoned for the investigative hearing , uncovered series of infractions and further, directed the ministry which was represented by the permanent secretary, Mr Edet Sunday Akpan, to produce Mr Onjeh ,one of the directors, Engr. Fabian Okonkwo and the current management team who had earlier shunned the panel’s sitting in Abuja, next Wednesday
Chairman of the House committee, honorable Nassir Ali Ahmed, who handed down the directive, explained that the suspended board chairman, Dan Onjeh, still issued correspondences, letters and other memos in the official letter headed paper of the institute after he was asked to step aside.
According to the panel, one of such infractions, was a letter he personally addressed to the committee on the official letter headed paper of the PRODA in his capacity as chairman of the board.
Besides the letter, testimonies of some members of management staff, who made submissions and were cross examined by the committee conducting the investigation, among them, the suspended DG, Engineer Charles Agunlanna, Engineer Ifeanyin Ofilli, as well the immediate past Acting DG/CEO,PRODA, Nathan Abia- Bassey, and a female Head of procurement, all point to high handedness of the board chairman , who allegedly formed a parallel management team to undermine not only government financial regulations but ran the institute as a private concern.
The committee was told how a zenith bank account was opened without recourse to central bank new regulations on a single bank TSA, as well as re -awarding of contracts duly approved by the BPP and already completed, to cronies, etc.
Mr Onjeh was also accused of intervening with the day to day activities of the agency, and frustrating the procurement process by writing the Bureau of public procurement to dishonour all tendering activities that were already approved, while his parallel management team was similarly fingered in all shades of administrative and financial recklessness of the institute, for instance, demoting, removing and replacing staff who did not do their bidding with unqualified junior ones.
But the embattled Ex- board chair has denied all the allegations,demanding a retraction from the House of Representatives and the Ministry or face court action
He told newsmen in a chat that “at no time, was I suspended as Chairman of PRODA”
” I’m still the Chairman and even a letter by the Committee (of the House), inviting me for the hearing, addressed me as such”.
He said: “I have already briefed my lawyers, and written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, telling him to at the next plenary(Tuesday next week), retract the claims that I was removed as Chairman of the Board of PRODA, or I will go to court”.
Onjeh explained that his appointment was made by the President and not the National Assembly and as such, it was only the Presidency that can remove him
He also denied refusing to appear before committee , pointing that he had earlier demanded for an extension of time to enable him honour their invitation
End
Buhari forwards 2020 Finance Bill to Reps
