Nigeria: NGO Accuses SGF, George Akume, of Contract Fraud, Abuse of Office, and Massive Diversion of Public Funds

Confidence UbaniJune 10, 20252 Mins read149

The Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) has accused the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, of awarding contracts to unqualified and non-existent companies. The group also alleged violations of procurement laws and misappropriation of public funds.

In a petition set to be submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), NACAT outlined a pattern of financial irregularities, contract fraud, and abuse of office linked to the Office of the SGF (OSGF). The petition, obtained by West Africa Weekly, was supported by a press briefing and documents detailing several questionable transactions.

Akume, who took office as SGF in June 2023, is accused of breaching the Public Procurement Act by overseeing contract awards to entities that are ineligible. Some companies cited are reportedly not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Non-existent Companies and Questionable Payments

One company, Eagle Construction Ltd, received ₦223.3 million as part of a ₦830 million contract for constructing an SGF annexe office in Abuja. According to NACAT, new directors were recently appointed in January 2023, suggesting an in-house corruption pattern. Though incorporated in 1981, the group described the directors’ onboarding as a “special purpose vehicle” solely to access the contract.

Vent Force Ltd and Total Facilities Management Ltd were paid over ₦10 million combined for cleaning and fumigation services in December and September 2024, respectively. However, the CAC registration status of the companies was inactive at the time of payment, rendering them ineligible for public contracts under Nigerian law.

Other questionable payments were also facilitated with Maurice Mbakwe, the Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office in the Office of the SGF. According to NACAT, the General Service Office functions as the “engine room” for the movement of funds and the detection of questionable transactions within the SGF’s office.

Breach of Procurement Laws

NACAT noted that the Public Procurement Act requires all contracts exceeding ₦200,000 to undergo open competitive bidding, which includes advertisements in multiple newspapers and procurement journals. The petition alleged that the OSGF bypassed these requirements and awarded multimillion-naira contracts without transparency.

The group also pointed to Treasury circulars issued in 2009 and 2013, which prohibit payments exceeding ₦200,000 into the personal accounts of government officials. Despite this, the SGF’s office allegedly approved several such payments.

Funds Paid into Individual Accounts

The petition listed instances where large sums were paid directly into the accounts of civil servants:

Mr Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, Permanent Secretary, received ₦15.5 million for estacode and air tickets to attend a programme in Rwanda. There is no evidence that he attended the event.
Mr Auta Nathaniel received ₦5.2 million for monitoring visits to state NACA offices, even though the SGF’s office is not mandated to conduct field monitoring.
Mr Tahir Rabiu was paid ₦46.7 million for a trip to Germany, allegedly involving the SGF and his aides. NACAT noted that the trip never took place.
Mr David Ezeh, a project accountant in the OSGF, was paid over ₦74 million between August and October 2024. The payments were reportedly for stakeholder engagements with media executives. NACAT highlights that such funds should have been routed through the appropriate agencies and paid directly to media organisations, not through a civil servant’s personal account.

NACAT has urged the EFCC and ICPC to launch a full investigation into the SGF’s office, as this pattern of financial transactions indicates “a deliberate and systemic looting of public funds.

“….those entrusted with public office must be reminded that power is not a license to loot—it is a duty to serve. President Bola Tinubu must, therefore, test the waters as a man who claims to be committed to ridding Nigeria of corruption by removing Senator George Akume from office without delay. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”, the group stated.

These alleged actions are particularly troubling given the country’s ongoing economic hardship. Recall that the House of Representatives raised an alarm that over 60 per cent of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have breached financial regulations.