Some workers of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to, as a matter of urgency look into their petitions sent to the commission. The workers requested the anti-crimes commission to look at the petitions they wrote against General Manager, Project Coordinator, Engr. Joseph Almajiri. on July 27th,2022, and October 21st,2022 which were submitted to the Minister of Power. The petitions bordered on Almajiri’s corrupt activities and the attempt to violate the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005(EPSR Act).
They implored the commission to thoroughly examine the petitions and take necessary action because the Electric Power Sector Reform Act(EPSR Act) establishing the Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN) is clear and unambiguous.
The workers say, despite having a few weeks to his retirement from civil service, Mr. Almajiri has renewed his tacts to perpetuate himself in office to continue his alledged acts.
The embattled workers had on July 27, 2022, 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”
In another petition dated October 20th,2022, the workers had implored the Minister of Power, Engineer Abubakar Aliyu to set up an independent investigation committee that would look into corruption allegations against Almajiri.
They reasoned that 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
They accused Almajiri of collaborating with training consultants for kickbacks contrary to 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 also accused the General Manager, Project Coordination, of 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.
They said Almajiri allegedly collected monies for training and didn’t attend same which makes him liable to sections 8,9,10 and 11 of the ICPC Act and section 46 of the EFCC Act.
The workers 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.
Mr. Almajiri has denied all the allegations saying that his accusers are faceless persons – the content of their petitions is baseless and unfounded