President Mohammadu Buhari has replaced the acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Chukwuyere N. Anamekwe over alleged corruption and fraud barely 2 months after former AGF Idris Ahmed of accused of the same.
Mr Okolieaboh Ezeoke Sylvis, a former Treasury Single Account (TSA) Director is the newly appointed AGF.
Anamekwe’s replacement followed allegations that he was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Although, Anamekwe was appointed acting AGF on May 22. He made a controversial remark on government borrowing to pay salaries on June 14. It was also alleged that the government was not comfortable with his revelation that it was borrowing to pay salaries. He was replaced seven days after.
One of his financial crimes was allegedly committed while he was the Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA) at the Ministry of Defence.
He was also allegedly involved in other fraudulent activities and used the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) to steal the salaries of federal government staff.
The GIFMIS is an IT-based system for budget management and accounting. It was adopted as part of a wider Public Service Reform Strategy by the federal government of Nigeria starting in the early 2000s.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs Folasade Yemi-Esan has issued a circular to that effect.
She titled the memo, “Commencement if the process of appointment of a substantive Accountant-General of the Federation directing permanent secretaries to forward details of eligible directors on Grade 17 to her on or before 4:00 pm on Wednesday, July 6, 2022.
The memo stated the qualification of level 17 officers qualified for the position.
There are, “Those who have attained the position of Substantive Director (Grade 17) on or before January 1, 2020, and are not retiring from the service earlier than December 31, 2024, are eligible to participate in the selection process while officers undergoing disciplinary proceedings are excluded.”
Written by Adekunle Biodun