Emmanuel Ukudolo
October 31, 2015 – Recent appointment of Dr. Muhammed Lecky and Prince Soyebi Adedeji as commissioners in the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has become a source of worry to civil societies who have alleged that the two commissioners are people of dubious characters and therefore not worthy of occupying INEC as commissioners.
In a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, Coalition, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), alleged that the two commissioners are corrupt.
CSNAC is therefore demanding the removal of the two as INEC Commissioners to pave way for persons of unimpeachable characters, with untainted proven track records as replacements to hold such important and sensitive offices.
The group is of the view that appointment of these individuals by President Buhari ridicules the “change” mantra and the fight against corruption he has embarked upon.
“Mr. President, you would agree with us that the offices for which they have been appointed are important and capable of contributing to a large extent, to the truncation of this fragile democracy the country is currently grappling with if it is abused in the form of condoning electoral fraud and manipulation”, the group said.
In the petition signed by CSNAC chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, said the organization which has over 150 anticorruption agencies as members alluded to a report published in Sahara Reporters on 22nd day of October, 2015 that it has received documents revealing an investigation into Mohammed Lecky during his tenure as the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
“ According to the report, The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) report titled: “Unauthorized Investment of N10.7 Billion and Fraudulent Representation to the Federal Executive Council for the Award of the Contract to Novantus e-Health Systems Ltd by Dr. Mohammed Lecky, Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)” was submitted to former President Umaru Yar’adua on June 4th, 2007.
“Furthermore, the report stated that in the aforementioned report signed by the former Executive Chairman of the EFCC Nuhu Ribadu, it was revealed that Mr. Lecky “among other things, authorized the investment of Government funds in three Commercial banks that have no banking relationship with the Scheme to the tune of Ten billion and seven hundred naira (N10.7 billion).
“The report also details conflicts of interest between Mr. Lecky and health company Novantus e-Health Nigeria Ltd, which he awarded a contract to during his tenure as the NHIS Executive Secretary”, the group said.
According to the group, the EFCC investigation established that Mr. Lecky placed N10.7 billion from the NHIS into private accounts in Zenith, Intercontinental, and Guaranty Trust banks.
“The investigation found that the principal sum (N10.7 billion) was returned to the NHIS but the accumulated interest off this money “stood at Sixty three million, seven hundred and sixty three thousand, and thirteen Naira.
“The report findings also stated “no evidence was seen suggesting that the board or the Minister of Health gave approval for the placement of the funds in the various banks. It was the sole decision of the Executive Secretary.
“It was also learned that Mr. Lecky awarded a company belonging to him, his cousin, and close associates a contract from the NHIS. The investigation said “Novantus e-Health Nigeria Limited was incorporated on the 22nd of July 2005 by a cousin of the ex-Executive Secretary [Mr. Lecky] and his associates with a view to dubiously transferring the contract which was recommended to be awarded to Novantus e-Health USA.
“The investigation also noted that Novantus was not a legally formed company until after the public bid disclosed in the Punch Newspaper in 2005. The conclusion stated “a case of misappropriation of public funds cannot be established against [Mr. Lecky]” but that “a case of abuse of office could be sustained against the suspect on the basis of conflict of interest by influencing the award of a contract to a company in which his cousin is the director,” the group said.
The group noted that it will be a grave mistake to allow someone who has been indicted in a case of abuse of office on the basis of conflict of interest hold such a sensitive office.
On Adedeji, the coalition noted that following the nullification of the 2007 gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State about two years for being manifestly flawed, a rerun election was ordered which took place on April 25, 2009, which was also characterized by electoral irregularities and fraud.
“This prompted the then Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Adebayo Ayoka to resign her appointment as she claimed that her conscience revolted against the electoral malpractice.
“Consequently, Prince Soyebi Adedeji was brought in to stand proxy for Mrs. Adebayo and he practically supervised the rigging of the rerun election in Ekiti State.
“He was responsible for collating the fraudulent Ido/Osi results. Due to his involvement in the electoral malpractice in Ekiti State and the indictment of the Professor Maurice Iwu led Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) for grand electoral fraud, Prince Soyebi was removed as INEC Commissioner alongside Professor Iwu by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010. This also led to his non-inclusion when INEC was reconstituted in 2010.
“Yet again, you have nominated Prince Soyebi Adedeji as an INEC Commissioner despite his role in the grand electoral fraud that plagued the past general elections in the country.
“This to us brings to ridicule the “change” mantra and the fight against corruption that your administration has embarked upon. One would expect that someone like Mr. Soyebi with his record of involvement in electoral fraud and other electoral malpractices, would not have been nominated to an office as sensitive as that of INEC Commissionership, till when thorough investigations have been concluded and his role in the said electoral fraud is brought to a logical conclusion”, it said.
