A troubling blend of questions bordering on corrupt practices, involving N1.4 billion in one case, and theft of public assets has been raised against the surveyor general of the federation, Mr. Ebisintei Awudu and his office, the office of the surveyor general of the federation (OSGF), according to audit documents reviewed.
The audit reports, for at least three years, included a recommendation that OSGF should be investigated by the anti-graft authorities and that the accountant-general of the federation should constitute an inquiry into the accounts of the office
The reports, which though are interim observations requiring Mr. Awudu’s explanations to the auditor general of the federation, detailed observed contract frauds, as well as disregard for due process and accountability standards.
When contacted, Awudu said that officials opposed to him and desperate to see him leave office were behind his travails.
He then declined to comment on the allegations raised in the reports.
He said the reports were interim and it was out of order for him to answer to journalists’ questions on them as he is only duty-bound to offer his explanations to the auditor-general of the federation.
He denied any wrongdoing.
Between January and June 2018, according to the audit inspection report on the surveyor-general’s office, questions of fraud raised by the auditor-general’s office involved a sum of N1.4 billion, including N725.8 million reported to have been paid to three companies within one week without any evidence of service or contract rendered.
The three companies included Altruinco Services Ltd., F.A Kassim Survey Associates Ltd., and M. Yahaya and Associates.
According to the report, only Altruinco was paid on March 22, 2018, F.A Kassim was paid in three transactions in one day, March 27, 2018.
Yahaya was paid in two different transactions, according to the report delivered in November 2018.
