A civil society organisation has asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe Alex Badeh Jr., the director-general of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), over alleged financial mismanagement and breach of procurement procedures.
The group, Concerned Citizen and Whistleblower Initiative, in a petition signed by its national secretary, Comrade Ayo Adedeji, urged the anti-graft agency to investigate the allegations and ensure accountability within the bureau.
The petition alleged irregularities in contract awards, recruitment practices and project execution at the agency since Badeh assumed office.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved Badeh’s appointment as Director-General of the bureau on December 13, 2023. He subsequently assumed office on December 19, 2023.
However, the group claimed that several decisions taken under the current leadership of the bureau required urgent scrutiny by relevant authorities.
Among the issues raised were alleged breaches of procurement procedures in the execution of some projects, including renovation works, office partitioning and other infrastructure-related contracts at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The petition also questioned certain recruitment and staff placement decisions within the bureau, urging investigators to determine whether due process was followed.
It further raised concerns about alleged spending on staff training and induction programmes, as well as the utilisation of some government assets.
The group called on the anti-corruption agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the allegations and take appropriate action if any wrongdoing is established.
According to the organisation, the petition is aimed at promoting transparency and safeguarding public resources in government institutions.
As of the time of filing this report, the management of the bureau had yet to respond officially to the allegations contained in the petition.