Some workers of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN,have mplored the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC to act on the petitions they wrote against General Manager, Project Coordinator, Engr. Joseph Almajiri. on July 27th,2022, and October 21st,2022.
The petitions which were submitted to the Minister of Power bordered on Almajiri’s alleged corrupt activities and the attempt to violate the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005(EPSR Act).
They expressed that it was necessary for the anti-corruption agency to expedite action on their the petitions on the ground Electric Power Sector Reform Act(EPSR Act) establishing the Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN) is very clear.
The alleged that Mr. Almajiri has renewed his tacts to perpetuate himself in office to continue his act after his retirement from service
On July 27,last year,the workers petitioned the Minister of Power, Engineer Abubakar Aliyu, over ploy by Almajiri to illegally create the office of Executive Director Project in contravention of the company’s structure and organogram.
“We are calling on the Minister of Power to, as a matter of urgency,intervene to stop the illegal move, because if left to materialize, it will send a wrong signal to the power sector that anyone can buy his way to get any position even if it violates the EPSR Act and the Federal Character Principles, including natural justice”
Three months later,they wrote another petition and implored the Minister of Power, Engineer Abubakar Aliyu to constitute an independent investigation committee that would look into corruption allegations against Almajiri.
The development was necessary in order to look at the allegations with a view to clearing Ciro ma’s name from the accusations and safeguarding the integrity of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN
In the petition,they alleged that Almajiri was collaborating with training consultants for bribe against the 5th schedule of the 1999 Nigerian constitution which prohibits a public officer from accepting property or benefits of any kind for himself in the discharge of his duties.
They alleged that Almajiri was organizing training for his associates and himself against any government policy sections 9 and 10 of the ICPC Act which also defines the act as corruption.
The added:” And recently,it was alleged that in collaboration with the Procurement Coordinator for AFDB/TCN and TTL Team Task Lead for AFDB TCN project on the contract Lot 2 construction of new 330k Mando/Kaduna to Rimin Zakara/Kano 204km double Circuit Quad Conductor Transmission Lines.He negotiated with a Chinese and knocked Transtrall Lighting Limited(which has more experience and offered the lowest price), hence they went against the recommended bidder by the evaluation committee. It was alleged that he was promised 1.5mUSD”
The workers said the action of Almajiri contravened all the Nigerian laws, including all the laws of natural justice.
But Almajiri said all the allegations are baseless,unfounded while his accuser’s are faceless.
He added that dark forces are against him following recent corruption allegations slammed on him by Concerned Staff of Transmission Company of Nigeria,TCN.
Speaking through a source in the ministry,he said that the petitioner, is not a staff of TCN as claimed earlier, adding that there are no records of service in the organisation linked to David Immiya,the leader of the group
The group is faceless,unknown and the content of their petition is baseless and unfounded,the source said.
According to him,the ministry of Power and the TCN are waiting for evidential records and proof of the allegations against Ciroma ranging from lobbying to create an Executive Directorate of the project office and influencing contract awards at the African Development Bank, AFDB.
