Group petitions EFCC, seeks probe of Nyesom Wike over alleged education fraud

The group wants the anti-corruption commission to investigate its allegations.

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over the alleged corrupt practices of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for Education.

The petition also urged the commission to investigate Ahmed Mohammed, former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education, UBEC.

During Mr. Mohammed’s 12 year tenure as Executive Secretary of UBEC and National Teachers Institute, NTI, the duo mismanaged over N50 billion fund allocated to primary education, the group said, quoting a 2012 article by an online publication (not PREMIUM TIMES).

The report also indicted Ruqayyatu Rufai, the Education Minister, according to the petition signed by Olanrewaju Suraju, CSNAC’s
Chairman.

According to the petition, while in NTI, Mr. Mohammed appointed his wife Aishatu, as principal consultant, and through the position
mismanaged over N3.3 billion from the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) grants assigned to the office.

“The contract for the building of Almajiri schools and supply of textbooks was alleged to have been allocated to the front of Chief
Wike, which is clearly in conflict of interest with regards to his position as Minister of state at Federal Ministry of Education.

“Mr. Wike also allegedly coerced principals of federal government colleges across the country to remit 40% – an increment from 15% – of their allocated funds,” the petition said.

“This implies that out of the N16,706,314,319.00 quarterly allocation to federal schools in 2012, a return of about N6.68billion naira went to Mr. Wike,” the petition added.

“By virtue of his position as Minister of State at the Ministry of Education, Mr. Wike manages all the Federal Government Secondary
Schools and its within his authority and power to discharge and transfer school principals (he can sack them without pension or access
to other accumulated gratuities).

“With the awareness of the power Mr. Wike wields, the principals are afraid to blow the whistle for fear of losing their jobs.”

The group noted that Mr. Wike, while serving as Chief of Staff of Rivers State government, was arrested by the EFCC over allegations of
embezzlement and money laundering of over N2.5 billion.

“The details of the prosecution are yet to see light of the day,” it said

CSNAC urged the anti graft agency to carry out a “thorough investigation” of Messrs Wike and Mohammed and prosecute them if found
culpable.

“Both (Mr. Mohammed) and Mr. Wike are known to spend lavishly and own properties worth billions of naira. These men have been public officers all their lives and it is irreconcilable the kind of lavish lifestyles otherwise displayed by this officers,” CSNAC continued in their petition.

“Education is the cornerstone of the development of any nation. Where funds appropriated to these institutions of learning are allowed to be misappropriated and the offenders left to go scot free we are inevitably building a nation where illiteracy and underdevelopment
will thrive.

“The recent Boko Haram crisis is traceable to the dearth of basic education as one of the causal factors.”