CORRUPTION: NIGERIANS CALL ON PRESIDENT BUHARI TO PROBE ENGR. M.S. HARUNA, EX-NASENI BOSS OVER ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPT PRACTICES IN NASENI

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), came to life when the news of the exit of Engr. Dr. M.S. Haruna arrived the Agency. Investigations revealed that the news which immediately spread to all NASENI Institutes and beyond, was received with joy and open arms. According to verified reports, pockets of staff were sited in their groups, discussing the development in happy moods. “This is a day we have been waiting for,” one of the staff of the Agency screamed with joy.

The battle in NASENI took a fierce dimension when Engr. Dr. M.S. Haruna, refused to handover power to the next most senior director in the Agency in accordance with the provision of the law. His five year tenure in office had expired on 2nd April, 2018. Not minding the directive of a federal government circular from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) which directed that on no circumstance must the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Agency stay a day longer in office at the expiration of his tenure, Haruna, decided to take laws into his hands by refusing to handover to the next most senior director of the Agency.

Haruna was not in the good books of many of the staff of the Agency who had accused him of playing games with relevant development matters needed to grow the economy of the nation, via technological research and advancement. Of course, the staff of the Agency who knew much about his fraudulent machinations, detested his leadership style which was constantly powered in the domain of propaganda. While the troubles lasted, many Nigerians blamed the Hon. Minister for Science and Technology, Engr. Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, for deciding to shield Haruna’s acts of illegalities. The Hon. Minister had refused to sack Haruna whose tenure had expired from office. Both of them, many say, might be in such partnership that appears to be stronger and more valuable than the position of the law which they both swore to uphold.

The national body of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutes (ASURI) which had joined forces with well-meaning Nigerians to mount pressure on the Minister in order to compel Haruna to handover to the next most senior officer in the Agency did not stop at that. The Union, on 2nd May, 2018, stormed NASENI Headquarters in their large number, to further sensitise its members on the need to ensure that any trace of illegality is no longer allowed a space in NASENI. Addressing its members, Comrade Anslem Eragbe, enjoined them to conquer their fears and to stand up for the truth at all times. Alluding that evil triumphs when good men decide to remain silent, he further charged members of the Union and all other staff of the Agency, to detest Haruna and his partners whose plans for NASENI in particular and Nigeria in general are contaminated with propaganda, fraud and all forms of corrupt inclinations and proclivities.

Addressing the press at the gate of the Agency, ASURI boss, Dr. Theophilus Ndubuaku, the Secretary General of the Union, called on His Excellency, President Buhari, to disregard any recommendation that must have been made in favour of Engr. Dr. M.S. Haruna who is said to have been bribing government officials in order for them to help him secure presidential approval for a second tenure of another five years in office. He also called on the president to probe the Ex-NASENI boss, Engr. Dr. M.S. Haruna whose tenure was marred with gross embezzlement of public funds. It was deduced in their actions at the entrance of the Agency that Haruna is the worst thing that had happened to NASENI. The spokesman of the Union did not spare the NASENI boss by advising presidency never to give any other opportunity to Haruna, to handle government office for any reason. According to them, he is a bad influence to the society. The Union also used that opportunity to advise the Hon. Minister for Science and Technology to distance himself from Haruna if he cares about maintaining his integrity.

The body language of the national body of the Union, suggests that ASURI might call for a nationwide strike action if Haruna is allowed by Mr. President to come back to Agency.

The Union made available to the public, few records of Haruna’s illegal and corrupt deals when he was in charge of the Agency and therefore, called on the government to investigate the improprieties for the sake of instilling sanctity in the system. According to the spokesman of the Union, the Ex-NASENI boss, Engr. Dr. Haruna embezzled N24,750,000.00 meant for the supply of complimentary wood working machines for SOMMEDI in May, 2013. According to him, payment was made to the contractor (Hashmite Global Technology Limited) but no purchase of the machines was made apart from the ones donated by Japanese to NASENI during the time of the former NASENI boss, Prof. O.O. Adewoye. Haruna was said to have also misappropriated and embezzled the sum of N6,728,480.00 being research grant from National Automative Council for further development of Keke NASENI in February, 2014.

The leadership of the Union also faulted Haruna for false and fraudulent research results claimed on the Kinetic Hydro Turbine, alleged to have been produced by NASENI and as well as installed by NASENI Engineers in Mada River, Akwanga LGA, Nasarawa State. This project was presented to the government of Goodluck Jonathan as a NASENI accomplishment.

a. SMART HYDRO POWER (NIG) LTD - SUPPLY OF ONE UNIT OF KINETIC SMART HYDRO SYSTEM TO NASENI - 8,500,000
b. SMART HYDRO POWER NIG LTD - INSTALLATION, TESTING AND COMMISSIONING OF ONE UNIT KINETIC HYDRO POWER SYSTEM FOR NASENI - 10,450,000

The Union also faulted the Ex-NASENI boss who made the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo and the Minster for Science and Technology, Engr. Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, to publicly commission a project, Unmanned Area Vehicle (UAV) at the Eagle Square on 5th March, 2018. Investigation reveals that the project was not developed by NASENI. That, it was a product of amusement, developed from imported toys by a road-side craftsman in Delta State which Haruna shamelessly linked to PEEMADI Okene as one of NASENI products. The Ex-NASENI boss went on to spend N18,154,080.00 in the toy project.

The Union finally went on to reveal that the e-voting machine which the Ex-NASENI boss converted to NASENI Headquarter project was a product of ELDI, Awka. That, Haruna embezzled and misappropriated funds on the already developed e-voting machine. It revealed that after the presentation of the first prototype of the e-voting machine by ELDI Awka, Prof. Haruna fraudulently attempted to misappropriate and embezzle N33 million belonging to the Institute which they initially released to NASENI but the project was later said to had been executed with the sum of N18 million naira. This is also worth investigating. Meanwhile, the Ex-NASENI boss, embezzled the sum of N9,705,200.00 naira through Global Builders Ltd in the name of buying materials to develop the product.

To complement the claims raised by the national body of ASURI, further investigation into the matter, reveals that the Ex-NASENI boss, misappropriated public funds as revealed in the awards of contracts below:

1. NTB102/HQ/454, dated 21st November, 2017. The sum of 110,000 Euros was awarded for payment through a Nigerian account, indirectly, in favour of Mr. Thierry Blanchart, the Chairman, Dynali Helicopter Company, 101, Avenue Thomas Edison, 1402 – Thines Beligique. This was to buy a HELICOPTER which was expected to be supplied under 13 weeks. Till date, no helicopter has arrived NASENI. In another contract, another huge amount was awarded to also procure helicopter accessories. There is so much to these contracts than what is presented at the moment. What an embezzlement strategy!

2. NTB099/HQ/413, dated 7th September, 2017. The sum of N45,245,172.00 was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, Dalistech Global Services Ltd, Sentosa Park, B01-373, Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja. This was for providing CONSULTANCY SERVICES on the architectural design and drawing for the construction of 3km road to Aerodynamics laboratory. This amount is just for consultancy; not for the construction of the road. Till date, no report has been seen about this contract. This is simply a way of embezzling public funds. Using such amount for consultancy service (architectural design and drawing of a 3km road), is worth investigating.

3. NTB095/HQ/394, dated 8th March, 2017. The sum of N53,450,000.00 was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, Hily Lash Nig. Ltd, No. B20, Denyadodo Close, Apo, Abuja. This was for providing CONSULTANCY SERVICES on feasibility report on environmental impact assessment for the construction of high voltage testing laboratory. If this amount is paid for only feasibility study of the construction of a laboratory, how much will it take to do architectural designs and also for building it? This contract is visibly over bloated! Apart from that, till date, nothing has been done.

4. NTB097/HQ/001, dated 21st April, 2017. The sum of N35,945,576.00 was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, Glow Travels and Tours, plot 2356, Sakode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. This was for providing CONSULTANCY SERVICES for capacity building in China for NASS/NASENI. We do not seem to understand this kind of contract. This is simply an attempt to frustrate the true development of the nation. Corruption!

5. NTB097/HQ/002, dated 21st April, 2017. The sum of N2,999,870.40k only was also awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, Glow Travels and Tours, plot 2356, Sakode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. This was also for providing CONSULTANCY SERVICES for capacity building in China for NASS/NASENI. This is becoming more confusing.

6. NASENI/AD/MM/IS.I/III/384, dated 28th February, 2017. The sum of N19,727,944.00 was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, Glow Travels and Tours, plot 2356, Sakode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. This was for the provision of CONSULTANCY SERVICES for capacity building on development of women in Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia.

7. NASENI/AD/MM/IS.I/III/384, dated 13th March, 2017. Another sum of N19,727,944.00 was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, Glow Travels and Tours, plot 2356, Sakode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. This was also for the provision of CONSULTANCY SERVICES for capacity building on development of women in Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia. This is the same as in 6 above. This is a shame!

8. NTB096/HQ/399, dated 24th March, 2017. The sum of N19,838,820.00 only was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, Zugoe Systems Limited, 36 Zik Avenue, Enugu. This was for the provision of CONSULTANCY SERVICES on the disbursement of overhead allocation in 2016 capital appropriation for AMEDI, an Institute of NASENI. Consultancy service on how to disburse overhead allocation that is not up to 5 million naira? What sense is in this kind of contract? How will Nigeria survive with this kind of person?

9. NTB101/HQ/433, dated 1st November, 2017. The sum of N24,764,000.00 was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, NASENI SOLAR ENERGY LIMITED (NSEL), Karshi, Abuja for the provision and installation of NSEL products for the upgrading of solar power system at the office of the Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. Was this NASENI money really allocated to maintain the office of the Hon. Minister other than used to develop NASENI programmes and projects? This may have been misappropriation of public funds.

10. NTB101/HQ/434, dated 1st November, 2017. The sum of N19,340,000.00 was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, SELGIC VENTURES NIG. LTD, Plot 2302, Herbert Macauley Way, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja for the procurement of parts for the upgrading of solar power system at the office of the Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. This is another wonderful contract. Some Nigerians feel that these series of gesture from the NASENI boss must have influenced the Hon. Minister’s favourable consideration and recommendation for Engr. M.S. Haruna to be given a second term so that more NASENI allocation could be used to service the FMST. This is terrible!

11. NTB101/HQ/436, dated 1st November, 2017. The sum of N10,676,877.28k was awarded in favour of the Managing Director, SELGIC VENTURES NIG. LTD, Plot 2302, Herbert Macauley Way, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja for the procurement of parts for the upgrading of solar power system at the office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.

12. NTB099/HQ/414, dated 7th September, 2017. The sum of N49,670,352.50k only was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, Preoms Global Services Ltd, Suite M44, Commerce Plaza, Durumi District, Abuja. This was for the provision of CONSULTANCY SERVICES on the architectural designs and drawing for the construction of aerodynamics lab building. This is serious!

13. NTB094/HQ/396, dated 1st February, 2017. The sum of N85,665,000.00 only was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, China Zhonghao Nigeria Ltd, Plot 7, Inuwa Abdulkadir Road, Kaduna. Award of contract for the procurement of tools for reverse engineering of a solid minerals machine. There is the need for this to be investigated in order for the government to see the tools that could cost as much as N85.665 million.

14. NTB100/HQ/419, dated 11th October, 2017. The sum of N23,430,000.00 only was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, Kaura Motors Nigeria Limited, AB2, Nnamdi Azikiwe Way, Express Bye-Pass, Kaduna, for the procurement of a vehicle (Peugeot 508).

15. NTB100/HQ/420, dated 11th October, 2017. The sum of N45,980,000.00 only was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, Kaura Motors Nigeria Limited, AB2, Nnamdi Azikiwe Way, Express Bye-Pass, Kaduna, for the procurement of a vehicle (Toyota Proda TXL).

16. NTB100/HQ/421, dated 11th October, 2017. The sum of N29,550,000.00 only was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, Kaura Motors Nigeria Limited, AB2, Nnamdi Azikiwe Way, Express Bye-Pass, Kaduna, for the procurement of a vehicle (Toyota Hiace, 16 seaters bus). Most of these vehicles were not actually procured.

17. NTB094/HQ/388, dated 16th February, 2017. The sum of N18,200,250.00 was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, BNP Resources Limited, No. 15, Ukpo Close, Garki 2, Abuja for the procurement of a vehicle (Peugeot 508). Evaluate this with the contract in number 13 above.

18. NTB094/HQ/387, dated 1st February, 2017. The sum of N11,700,000.00 was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, Kaura Motors, No. 12, 231 Rd, Efab City Estate, Life Camp, Abuja, for the procurement of a vehicle (Peugeot 301).

19. NTB095/HQ/398x, dated 17th January, 2017. The sum of N9,150,100.00 was awarded for payment in favour of the Managing Director, Yakanaji Technology Limited, No. 40, Isa Kaita Road, U/Sarki, Kaduna for the provision of CONSULTANCY SERVICES for identification, technical specifications and manufacturers sources for solid mineral machines.

Investigations revealed that there were no External Adverts made for majority of these contacts. Also, that there was no opening of bids for many of these contracts. Also, that most of the contracts awarded by Haruna were split. There were much of illegalities in the award of these contracts. Therefore, Nigerians calls on the government to immediately investigate the Ex-NASENI boss for the sake of instilling sanctity in the NASENI system.

Yusuf Dahiru
Abuja