Amb. Musafari, National Steel Council Boss In N1bn Alleged Scandal

The National Steel Council (NSC) called for the immediate suspension of the Executive Secretary, Ambassador Abdulqadir Musafari from office to allow for a thorough investigation into an over N1billion fraud allegedly perpetrated by him.

This was contained in written letter addressed to the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, in which the Council accused Musafari of malfeasance.

In the letter dated March 15, 2024, the Council said that Musafari failed, refused and/or neglected to avail it of any information concerning his activities on behalf of the council, if duly authorized.

The Council said that its recommendation followed the recommendations made by a committee it set up on February 12, 2024, to investigate Musafari over financial impropriety and other serious misconducts.

The terms of reference of the Committee set up by the Council included investigating “several wilful and deliberate actions calculated to sabotage the lawful activities of the National Steel Council in the fulfilment of its mandated duties and responsibilities to the Nigerian people under the National Steel Council Act.

“Wilful and deliberate misappropriation of public funds to profit and/or benefits self and with intent to deceive or defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and its citizens.

“A recurring pattern of executive recklessness (both civil and criminal) and blatant disregard for established laws and council procedures and/or directives

“Communicating formally, conducting formal meetings and/or making formal outreaches to third parties on behalf of the council without knowledge or approval, and without consequently reporting the outcome of such to the council.

“Engaging persons (either directly or on secondment) for employment and/or to serve (particularly in strictly confidential positions) to act on behalf of the council without notice to, approval by, and/or subsequent report for the purpose of ratification by the council, in contravention of paragraph 5(2) of the first schedule of the national steel council act.”

The disciplinary committee which was chaired by a retired judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo with Prof. Sylvester Osuji, Hajiya Fatimah Hayatu, DIG David Folawiyo (Rtd) as members and Mr. Elvis Asoro Esq., as Secretary, submitted its preliminary report to the NSC Board on February 29, 2024.

Other areas investigated by the panel included allegations over the attempted illegal withdrawal of the sum of N726,477,654.21 from the Treasury of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) without the knowledge, consent or approval of the National Steel Council (NSC).

It also included; “Payment of N5,000,000.00 as bank charges which the Council was unaware of and did not approve.

“Payment of N6,253,000.00 as Insurance dues/claims. The Council is unaware of, and did not approve, any such Insurance agreement(s) for which this payment may be considered a responsibility of the Council.

“Payment of N961,000.00 for Publicity of which the Council is unaware of and did not approve or authorize.

“Expense of N310,060,500 as purchases/acquisition without the knowledge, authority, and/or approval of the Council.

“Expense of N38,418,530.75 as Local Travel and Transport unknown to, unauthorized by, unapproved by, and hidden from the Council.

“Another expense of N4,709,848.05 for Local Travel and Transport unknown to. unauthorized by, and unapproved by, the Council.

“Expense of N1,000,000.00 (One Million) on telephone calls without the knowledge, authorization, and/or Council approval.

“Expense of N1,000,000.00 (One Million) on the printing of security documents that are unknown to, unauthorized by, and unapproved by, the Council.

“Expense of N20,125,000.00 budgeted for staff training on persons unknown to, unauthorized by, and unapproved by. the Council.

“Payment of N24,371,000. as Honorarium and Sitting Allowances which are either unapproved or unreported by the Council.

“Payment of N9 Million for purchase of photocopy machines unknown to, unauthorized by, and unapproved by, the Council.

“Payment of N512,000.00 from funds budgeted for the purpose of National Steel Council, for privately accrued electricity charges by Ambassador A. Musafari on a private and/or personal property, without the knowledge, authorization, and/or approval of Council.

“Payment of N4,435,113.75 for Office Stationery/Computer Consumables without the knowledge, authorization, and/or approval by the Council.

“Payment of N166,000.00 for the purported maintenance of personal/private motor vehicles that the Council is neither aware of nor owns. This payment is without the Council’s knowledge, authority, and/or approval.

“Payment of N120,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Thousand) for the maintenance of personal/private Office Furniture for which the Council is not aware of ownership. This payment is without the Council’s knowledge, authority, and/or approval.

“Payment of N99,000.00 purportedly for the maintenance of Office/Residential Quarters that do not belong to, are unknown to, and/or authorized by Council.

“Payment of N470,000 for maintenance of Office/IT Equipment which ownership is unknown to, and/or does not belong to, the Council. This payment was not known to, authorized by, and/or approved by, the Council.

“Payment of N476,000.00 (Four Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand) from public funds for maintenance of private and/or personal Plants/Generators. This payment was not known to, authorized by, and/or approved by, the Council.

“Payment of N107,000.00 for non-specific maintenance services that are not known to. authorized by, and/or approved by, the Council.

“Payment of N1,950,000 for cleaning and fumigation services for private and/or personal premises. This payment was hidden from, unauthorized by, and/or unapproved by, the Council.

“Payment of N4,995,287.50 for Motor Vehicle Fuel Costs for personal vehicles unknown to the Council. This payment was hidden from, unauthorized by. and/or unapproved by, the Council,” the Council’s letter to the minister stated.

The Council’s chairman, Murtala Aliyu, in the letter, described the suspension as necessary as Musafari failed, refused and/or neglected to avail the Council of any information concerning his activities.

Aliyu said that the Council was unable to investigate some of the allegations against the Executive Secretary which he recommended should be referred to law enforcement agencies.

In the words of Aliyu; “It is therefore necessary to forward the infractions which the disciplinary committee cannot investigate under the law beyond the documents presented, to the appropriate government agency e.g. the ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission) or the Police to act.

“The infractions against the Executive Secretary are too weighty being criminal in nature and therefore tainted with the commission of crimes which are also in violation of the Federal Government Financial Regulations Rules.

“These allegations should be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency with investigative powers forthwith.

“With due respect and without prejudice to the powers of the Honourable Minister for Steel and the committee set up by him, we are of the opinion that these infractions have to be investigated as agreed by the Disciplinary Committee set up under the NSC Act.

“In view of these infractions which are to be investigated, there is the need to suspend the Executive Secretary as stipulated in the Act by the Appointing Authority, which must be informed of these infractions and the steps which the Council is taking in this matter.”

When SaharaReporters contacted Amb. Musafari for his reaction, he declined to comment on the matter saying that all enquiries on the matter should be directed to the Federal Ministry of Steel Development.

…Sourced from SaharaReporters