BORBDA: BeDU Petitions Tinubu Over Marginalisation of Binis
By David Lawani, Abuja
…Accuses MD, others of Multimillion Naira Fraud
The Benin Development Union (BeDU), a Bini social group, has raised allegations of marginalisation, oppression and fraud against the Managing Director of the Benin- Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA),Engineer Saliu, Osifuemhe Ahmed.
In a petition addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dated October 23rd 2023, the Union, among other allegations, states that in the 41 year history of the Board, a Benin indigene has only headed the institution once and even that for only 5 months from January to May 2011despite being the host community of the institution.
The group therefore appealed to the president to intervene by appointing a BINI as Managing Director.
Other allegations brought against the Authority have to do with corruption, misappropriation of funds, illegal disposal of federal government properties, and assets.
In the petition signed by it’s President Comrade Maxwell Uwagboe and the Director of Action and
Mobilisation,Surveyor Igbinoba Festus Igbinosun, specific allegations were levied against the Managing Director Engineer Saliu Osifuemhe Ahmed and other top guns of the Authority.
Ahmed, the Managing Director, is accused of collecting over N4.6m estacode for a trip he did not make, virement of funds, as well as collecting N10m for an international trip without approval
Engineer Chief Veronica Olalemi, an Executive Director, is also alleged to have embezzled over 4.6m for a trip she never attended. She is also accused of destroying several documents that could have been useful as evidence of the various violations.
Others mentioned as part of the wrong doing are Mrs Chidi Cordelia Aneni. Engineer S.H Owolabi and Mr Osikela Omo-Ikiroda.
The petition is copied to the Senate President, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, the Edo state Governor, the Oba of Benin, as well as the Edo South caucus of the National Assembly.
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