The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has again sacked Murtala Ibrahim, an auditor with the bank who blew the lid on official corruption three years ago.

The dismissal, communicated to Mr Ibrahim on September 26, is the second time the FMBN management will axe the embattled whistleblower.

On September 17, the House of Representatives received a petition in its plenary against Mr Ibrahim’s continued maltreatment by the bank.

Mr Ibrahim is being hounded for exposing alleged fraud by the previous FMBN’s management through a petition and for declining to approve suspicious payments.

Axed

A letter informing Mr Ibrahim of his latest sack, signed by the managing director of the bank, Ahmed Dangiwa, and the executive director, finance and corporate service, Melville Ebo, said his services were no longer required by the bank.

“Management regrets to inform you that your services are no longer required as the Board has approved your immediate dismissal,” it reads partly.

The reason adduced in the terse letter is curious as Mr Ibrahim, according to his academic and service records, is a high flying professional.


He is a first-class graduate of accounting and a chartered accountant who had worked with commercial banks before joining FMBN in 2010 aa s senior manager.

He is also currently pursuing a PhD programme at a Malaysian university.

Citing his credentials, in a letter dated January 9, 2017, appealing his earlier sack, Mr Ibrahim wrote:

“I can say without mincing words that I am the most qualified professional accountant with relevant academic and professional qualifications in the whole of the Federal Mortgage Bank as at today.

“There is no any other staff with a first class degree in accounting or any other finance-related course throughout FMBN. Besides, aside from my MSc in Finance and professional qualifications in Accounting/Auditing both in Nigeria and the UK, I am also currently a PhD student (by research) at the University of Utara, Malaysia under self-sponsorship.”

Mr Ibrahim’s job appraisal records show that he never scored below 89 per cent.

Long-drawn battle

Trouble started for Mr Ibrahim in mid-2016 after he queried propriety of management’s payment of N2.23 billion for a ‘faulty’ contract of rehabilitation works on Mamman Kontagora House, a property of the bank in Lagos.

He also declined assent to the bank’s statement of financial position alleging it was doctored to indicate profit when the bank was actually running at a loss.

The auditor petitioned the supervising minister of the bank, Babatunde Fashola, as well as EFCC and SSS to report the latter scandal. This angered the management which moved to sanction him.

Despite a change in the top management of the bank, Mr Ibrahim had his appointment terminated via a letter dated May 8, 2017. There was no reason given for the decision.

A ministerial committee set up to review the case upon Mr Ibrahim’s appeal recommended his recall in a report filed in June 2018. It however took another six months before the management finally recalled him to work.

Hounded

He was however immediately transferred out of the headquarters in what was considered some sort of ‘punitive’ posting to outskirt Taraba State.

There was also no assigned role for him as auditors only functioned at the headquarters.

When in January 2019 Mr Ibrahim sought for transfer of service to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), citing relevant service provisions, the FMBN management ignored the request.

A series of requests for him to take leave to enable him attend to his studies and family issues were also largely ignored.

His accumulated salaries, after he was reluctantly recalled in December 2018, were only paid in May, 2019.

Disturbed by the lingering battle, Mr Ibrahim wrote a petition to the National Assembly in September for the parliament to intervene.

On September 17, the petition was read and laid before the House of Representatives, during its plenary.

It is unclear if the management was aware of Mr Ibrahim’s laid petition before it moved to dismiss him from service.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/355531-again-federal-mortgage-bank-sacks-whistleblower-after-reluctant-reinstatement.html

This kind thing, just accept the sack and go jejely before they implicate you on top one fraudulent deal you know nothing about. Them no born you put for there, carry your clear conscience japa.
If you like, dey there... them no dey tell person, you go learn your own lesson!

E be only nigeria can show whistleblower face. This one is no more blowing. He wanted manager's position

Now he can go and start a Refereeing career, he will make it even without VAR assistance...

simonlee:
This kind thing, just accept the sack and go jejely before they implicate you on top one fraudulent deal you know nothing about. Them no born you put for there, carry your clear conscience japa.
If you like, dey there... them no dey tell person, you go learn your own lesson!

Abi before den give an stroke

He should better leave now before strange illness will befall him, his integrity will open better doors for him

That is a man of integrity not the Aso rock pretender

This is the kind of people that Nigeria youths should be protesting against his maltreatment for honesty, but they are busy protesting against Big Brother Naija for disqualifying Tacha for fighting in public

That's naija for you and that's why corruption will keep growing faster than Nigeria blow whistle at your own risk

This is a public declaration of war against whistle blowers.

You're free to talk but not exempt from its consequences.

naija

This is the reason why a reasonable & honest individual with integrity will leave this Country by all means to a place where things are working

simonlee:
This kind thing, just accept the sack and go jejely before they implicate you on top one fraudulent deal you know nothing about. Them no born you put for there, carry your clear conscience japa.
If you like, dey there... them no dey tell person, you go learn your own lesson!

And it's people like you who call others cowards!

N

Like they say:

Corruption is fighting back

My guy fight for what your right

It's like this Ibrahim want to fight.

Every company has it's own SECRET. In Nigeria, companies find it hard to progress. I know of two banks that are in distress at the moment, the insiders ( worker) are aware but they dare not let the cat out of the bag.
Your bank was not progressing, they then recorded their LOSSES as GAINS in other for them to survive but u said NO. Your aim was to collapse the bank. If I were in your boss shoe I would have dismissed you since that 2016.
Then you would have realised that this is NIGERIA!

Nanagom:


Abi before den give an stroke

i had the same experience and i just fled the table. don't argue with anybody... just flee.
now i have my own table and there are so many plates on it!

I weep for Nigeria

If Mr Ibrahim had not blown the whistle or probably assisted the thieves in that bank with what they requested from him, he won't be in this current state now.

If the federal government doesn't weigh in and help Mr Ibrahim, then it's a done deal.

Where is baba that is fighting cowrrufssion?

I shake my head for that jungle, Nigerian youth should take this fight against corruption upon themselves, it's obvious the government is a scam, it's your money these people are stealing not Buhari's, youth organisations (NANS and the rest) should get into this issue and safe this man's job.

Nanagom:
He should better leave now before strange illness will befall him, his integrity will open better doors for him

In Nigeria? May be in an organisation where there is no corruption. Or if people like Dangote just decide to employ him directly. But left for any management in Nigeria, once they are aware of his principle, they will never call him back after interview

Whistleblowing gone wrong
When you blow whistle for you own head

simonlee:
This kind thing, just accept the sack and go jejely before they implicate you on top one fraudulent deal you know nothing about. Them no born you put for there, carry your clear conscience japa.
If you like, dey there... them no dey tell person, you go learn your own lesson!

If you don't have anything reasonable to say why not just shut up

Corruption will always fight back and that is an awareness anyone remotely interested in salvaging this country should know. I commend you Mr. Ibrahim where ever you may be. Know that there are many who root for you and send you thoughts of courage and fortitude as you stand for what you believe in.

simonlee:
This kind thing, just accept the sack and go jejely before they implicate you on top one fraudulent deal you know nothing about. Them no born you put for there, carry your clear conscience japa.
If you like, dey there... them no dey tell person, you go learn your own lesson!

And this is why things like this keeps going on. We need to be principled even if the consequences are dire.