By Samuel Egburonu, Editor

The recently sacked Managing Director/CE officer of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr Michael Akobundu, has petitioned the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the roles played by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, in his (Akobundu’s) sack as the MD/CE of NSITF, and in the alleged Multi-Billion Naira Frauds perpetuated at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.

In a nine (9) page petition, dated March 13, 2023, addressed to EFCC Chairman and personally signed by Dr Michael Akobundu, the recently sacked Managing Director/CE of NSITF, alleged that Dr Ngige may have been involved in some high scale frauds perpetuated at NSITF by some alleged top officials.

The petition, received by the office of the EFCC Chairman on 25 April 2023, is titled: “Re: Corruption, Criminal Conspiracy, Forgery, Impersonation, Gross Violation of Procurement Act, Torture And Threat To Life Against Dr Chris Ngige. Mrs Maureen Allagoa, Mrs Ijeoma Okoronkwo and Mrs Joyce Nkponor, And The Real Reasons For The Unlawful Removal Of Dr Michael Akobundu From Office As The Managing Director/Chief Executive Of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).”

In the petition, sighted by NewsOrient, Dr Akobundu called on the EFCC Chairman to direct a full investigation of the numerous allegations he levelled against Ngige and some top officials of NSITF, including Mrs Maureen Allagoa, Mrs Ijeoma Okoronkwo and Mrs Joyce Nkponor.

Akobundu further alleged, through his lawyers, Seasons Law Firm, that his resistance against the alleged monumental fraudulent activities at NSITF was among the “real reasons” for his sudden and unlawful ‘sack’ as MD/CE of NSITF.

Amongst the allegations Akobundu levelled against Ngige and some top officials of NSITF in the petition and which he called on EFCC to investigate include: “Abuse of office and Corruption; Alleged fraudulent activities in the automation of NSITF (E-NSIFT) project which is scheduled to gulp N2, 861, 330, 000. 00; Purchase of property for the NSITF; Violation of Procurement Act (Procuring without Cash Backing); Production of Prosthesis; Torture And Threat To Life; and Unlawful Removal Of Dr Michael Akobundu as MD/CE of NSITF.”

As at the time of filing this report, NewsOrient reports that it was not yet certain if EFCC has commenced full investigation of the matter or the extent the anti-graft agency may have gone in the preliminary investigations.

Source: http://newsorientng.com