National
Eyiboh Fired After Unravelling Graft At Cross River Basin
By GWG Staff
Two months after the board of the Cross River Basin Development Authority, CRBDA suspended Engr. Bassey Nkposong as the managing director of the agency, the repercussion of the move has bounced back with the chairman of the agency, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh being sacked.
Eyiboh and the entire board of the agency had wielded the big stick on the managing director in a letter dated August, 13, 2020.
The board acted upon the failure of the managing director to respond to questions bordering on corruption and other improprieties levelled against him.
The board had prior to the suspension of the managing director set up a committee of the board to investigate the allegations of misconduct and other improprieties.
Eyiboh a former chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Ethical Commission and member of the House of Representatives had in the letter dated August 13, 2020 directed Nkposong to hand over following the resolution of the board.
Eyiboh wrote:
“I write to inform you in consequence of your failure and/or refusal to prove any representation, including cogent reasons and grounds to exculpate you from the allegations of misconduct/gross misconduct contained in our letter ref. no CRB/AD.C.32/S/volxv/172 and dated February 24, 2020 which was delivered to you on the same date –February 24, 2020 by the board secretary – Barrister A. P. Udoh and a formal query in our letter Ref no: CRB/AD/C.32/S/Vol.xv/175 dated July 20, 2020, also delivered to you by the board secretary (Barrister A.P. Udoh), that the Board of the Authority in exercise of its powers has reached a decision to suspend you and you are hereby suspended in substantial compliance with the extant Public Service Rules 160201(a) and the provisions of the River Basins Development Authroities Act (as amended).
2. In order to ensure an unfettered operations and administrative access and having regards to your role in the various issues/allegations raised, the Board has directed you handover every government’s property and authority forthwith to the most senior Director in the establishment. In addition, you are restrained by this suspension forthwith from the exercise of the powers and functions of the Managing Director of Cross River Basin Development Authority, pending the conclusion of further audit and administrative procedures. A detailed report on the mater is being forwarded to the Honourable Minster, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, for further and necessary actions.
3. Please acknowledge receipt of this letter on the copy attached herto and ensure compliance and receipt of the board’s warmest regards.
Very truly
Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh
Chairman
For: Governing Board of CRBDA
However, the board’s resolution was countered by the minister of water resources who overruled the board saying in a statement on August 17 that the board did not follow due process and indeed lacked the powers to suspend the managing director.
In the latest development, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Did Walson-Jack in a letter dated October 8, 2020 writing on behalf of the minister directed Eyiboh to hand over as chairman of the board.
He said the directive was upon the instruction of the president as conveyed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha.
He said:
“I Write with reference to a letter from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Ref. No. SGF.6/5.5/C.2/IV/173 dated 2nd October 2020 conveying Mr. President’s approval for your removal as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cross River Basin Development Authority, (CRBDA), with effect from 1st October 2020.
Consequently, you are hereby directed to immediately handover to Engr. Ademola Oyadare, a member of the Board of Directors of the CRBDA, who will oversee the Office of the Chairman, pending the appointment of a substantive chairman by Mr. President.
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