ICPC PROBES SLEAZE IN NSITIF AS SERVING MD PAYS HERSELF GRATUITY

In a letter dated September 14, 2023, with reference number ICPC/SSD/TB/197/2023 and directed to the MD of the fund, those invited include Head of Administration, Head of Finance and Investment, as well as Head of Audit and Inspectorate.
It also directed the officials to bring along “personal and secret files of Mrs Maureen Allagoa (all volumes as General Manager, Executive Director and Director-General/CEO maintained by the fund)”, as well as records of gratuity payment made to retired staff of the fund from 2019 to date.
The letter added that the records of gratuity payment made to retired staff of the fund from 2019 to date would include all payment vouchers and evidence of transfer.
Daily Trust had reported how the MD approved the sum of N47m for herself as gratuity while still in active service.
It showed that N11,916,336.93 was approved as her gratuity while serving as general manager and N36,000,000 approved as her gratuity as executive director totaling N47,916 336.93.
The document, with a Reference Number: NSITF/AC/I&A/5/S.4/B117 and dated July 3, 2023, was from Principal Manager, Audit and Inspectorate, and routed through Assistant General Manager, Head, Audit and Inspectorate to the Deputy General Manager, Head, Audit and Inspectorate.
But the ICPC, in its letter titled: “INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES: LETTER OF INVITATION /REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS”, described the payment as a violation of the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Although some officials of the agency, including the spokesman, Nwachukwu Godson, told our correspondent during a recent visit to the headquarters of the fund that the MD refunded the money when it came to public knowledge, Daily Trust could not, however, confirm the veracity of the claim.
Daily Trust also understands that Mrs Allagoa immediately directed the General Manager of Human Resources Management to update all her records in the file, including the former Minister of Labour’s payment approval for her retirement benefits.
Several phone calls (both voice and WhatsApp calls) to the spokesperson of the ICPC, Azuka Ogugua, on Thursday, were not answered.
She was also yet to reply to the SMS and WhatsApp message sent to her as at when filing this report.
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