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LequteMan
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Nigeria - The managing director of the News Agency of Nigeri, Ima Niboro, is under intense investigations following allegations of highhandedness and corruption from his subordinates a year after his appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The investigation commences more than one month after three staff members of the agency petitioned the information ministry, which has supervisory powers of NAN, accusing Mr. Niboro of financial mismanagement and authoritarianism, Premium Times says.
Mr. Niboro was accused of awarding the redesign of the agency's news portal to Infomall – a Nigerian software development company – for N16.6 million without a tendering process which would have seen the contractor compete with other developers for expertise and cost.
The same company was awarded a second data archiving contract for N16.5 million and the sums paid instantly, “without certification by the technical or IT unit”.
Mr. Niboro however claims that iMate Ltd and Alpha International Ltd also bidded for the project, although he didn’t say why the project was not advertised as required by law. But the winner of the contract, Infomall, submitted its bid and was awarded the job within 24 hours.
In his short stay, his subordinates say he has acquired four luxury cars worth N50 million with the agency’s funds, while there is no drinking water in the agency’s head office in Abuja, and staff are owed allowances.
“Within the last one year, Mr. Niboro acquired two Ford Pilot trucks – both costing more N10.9 million each – and a Range Rover 2010 model worth N23.5 million. These were acquired nine months after the agency paid for the purchase of a Pajero,” the petitioners said.
Mr. Niboro admitted buying the Ford Pilot trucks with flash lights but argued that he acquired them for special duties - “I put one in Abuja and the other in Lagos,” he said. “I do not use them myself. I do not drive in convoy as the petitioners claim.”
Mr. Niboro is also accused of awarding contracts in shady circumstances, preferring to pay contractors huge sums in cash, rather than through bank processes. “Sometimes he pays contractors in full from start,” his colleagues said.
Mr. Niboro insists these claims are false. “They are lying,” he said.
#Nigeria #Niboro #NAN
The investigation commences more than one month after three staff members of the agency petitioned the information ministry, which has supervisory powers of NAN, accusing Mr. Niboro of financial mismanagement and authoritarianism, Premium Times says.
Mr. Niboro was accused of awarding the redesign of the agency's news portal to Infomall – a Nigerian software development company – for N16.6 million without a tendering process which would have seen the contractor compete with other developers for expertise and cost.
The same company was awarded a second data archiving contract for N16.5 million and the sums paid instantly, “without certification by the technical or IT unit”.
Mr. Niboro however claims that iMate Ltd and Alpha International Ltd also bidded for the project, although he didn’t say why the project was not advertised as required by law. But the winner of the contract, Infomall, submitted its bid and was awarded the job within 24 hours.
In his short stay, his subordinates say he has acquired four luxury cars worth N50 million with the agency’s funds, while there is no drinking water in the agency’s head office in Abuja, and staff are owed allowances.
“Within the last one year, Mr. Niboro acquired two Ford Pilot trucks – both costing more N10.9 million each – and a Range Rover 2010 model worth N23.5 million. These were acquired nine months after the agency paid for the purchase of a Pajero,” the petitioners said.
Mr. Niboro admitted buying the Ford Pilot trucks with flash lights but argued that he acquired them for special duties - “I put one in Abuja and the other in Lagos,” he said. “I do not use them myself. I do not drive in convoy as the petitioners claim.”
Mr. Niboro is also accused of awarding contracts in shady circumstances, preferring to pay contractors huge sums in cash, rather than through bank processes. “Sometimes he pays contractors in full from start,” his colleagues said.
Mr. Niboro insists these claims are false. “They are lying,” he said.
#Nigeria #Niboro #NAN
