FULL TEXT: Press Briefing Of NCSCN On The State Of Electricity In Nigeria And Bribery Scandal Against Director/CEO Of TCN

PROTOCOL.

Esteemed ladies and gentlemen of the Press, leaders of Civil Society Organisations here present, welcome, and thank you for always responding to our invitations even at very short notice.

The state of Electricity across the Country has become a matter of national emergency with repeated collapse of the National Grid and inability to even fully transmit and distribute the very minimal capacity being generated. Yet in the mist of these frustrating and devastating situations, we hear of a very unbelievable scandal against the Managing Director / CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz.

Over 20 petitions have been brought before the Civil Society Council against the MD/CEO of TCN and a few other directed at the Leadership of the Distribution Companies (DISCOs). However, the most alarming is the recent reports across media outlets concerning bribery allegations against the Managing Director of TCN, Engr. Sule A. Abdulaziz, that he purchased an SUV Car to induce the Honourable Minister of Power to influence his retention.

The MD has reportedly bought a 2023 Lexus SUV LX 600 model procured at the cost of N298, 444,187.50k for the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu. Reliable Sources has it that the MD of TCN bought the vehicle from the internally generated revenue of the company to bribe the Minister to ensure that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR does not remove him from office.

Available documents on the transaction show that the vehicle with Chassis No. JTJPBACX6P4026917 was procured from Kaura Motors Nigeria Limited through a contract agreement dated January 17, 2024, under the heading “Procurement Of Vehicles For Management Staff (Lot 1 & 2)”. A payment document with the heading “Payment Advice” shows that the money was paid to Kaura Motors Nigeria Limited account domicile with Fidelity Bank from TCN account through the Central Bank of Nigeria on February 20, 2024, at exactly 09:05 am and with Ref No: 997617729. The Batch Number is 15161, and the detailed description reads, “Payment for the supply and delivery of 1No Lexus LX 600 2023 Model for management staff lot 1 and 2.”
The most painful aspect of this ugly development to the Civil Society Community is that while the nation is languishing in darkness and epileptic power supply, about 226 containers of power equipment and transformers owned by the TCN are at the various ports in Nigeria.

Aside the corruption component in this offensive action, the gross insensitivity and irresponsibility therein is clearly showcased in the fact that this same MD of TCN has been unable to raise and pay up a paltry sum of One Billion Naira to take delivery of about 226 longstanding containers of power equipment and transformers that are trapped in various ports as a result of inability of the MD/CEO of TCN to raise paltry sum of money required to clear and take final deliveries.

The Civil Society Council is in custody of a letter dated November 7, 2023 with reference TCN/MD/CEO/01/E,001/VOL 7/227/2023 signed by the MD/CEO of TCN himself to the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service appealing for Intervention to cancel the huge demurrage and duties that had accumulated up to about N5b (five billion naira), of which the Comptroller General graciously oblige, cutting down to only 20% about N1b (One Billion only) in order to help improve electricity supply in Nigeria, yet, despite the goodwill and kind gesture of the Comptroller General of Customs, the MD of TCN is still unable to pay and take deliveries till date. We can all imagine the positive impact of 226 container load of power equipment and transformers to the national grid and electricity supply across the country, instead the MD of TCN can raise over one quarter of the same amount to buy car for a Minister.

NCSCN considers this failure to clear and take delivery of the containers of power equipment, purchase of car for the Minister of Power, and other violation of Procurement Act, as the height of irresponsibility and insensitivity to the plight of the masses, that calls for stiff punitive measures against the MD/CEO of TCN.

It is in the light of the foregoing that the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) strongly demands the immediate suspension of Engr. Sule A. Abdulaziz by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and investigation into these allegations by the EFCC, also that the Honourable Minister Power urgently addresses the Nigerian public on these very important matters.

The Council hereby issues a 7-day ultimatum starting from today of this Press Conference to relevant authorities [President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Minister of Power, Inspector General of Police, and General Public] to take actions on the above demands, failure to which we shall be left with no other option than to mobilize a mass protests nationwide to drive home our demands. Nigerians can no longer tolerate the excesses of the MD of TCN, and we demand remedies now or never.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and God Save Nigeria.