How Lecky NEWLY APPOINTED INEC BOSS Was Accused Of Corruption - Report

Scandal followed the appointment of Mohammed Lecky as the national commissioner for the INEC by President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, October 22.

Sahara Reporters claims that, based on the exclusively obtained documents, during his tenure as the executive secretary and the chief executive officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Lecky was suspected of being involved in the embezzlement of public money.

Lecky was under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an allegedly illegal investment of N10.7 billion, and fraudulent representation to the Federal Executive Council for the award of a contract. The report, signed by the formmer EFCC chairman Nuhu Ribadu, was said to have been submitted to Umaru Yar’adua, Nigeria’s former president.

According to Sahara Reporters: “Among other things, [Lecky] authorized the investment of government funds in three commercial banks that have no banking relationship with the scheme to the tune of ten billion and seven hundred naira (N10.7 billion).”

According to the document, the investigation showed that Lecky first invested the said amount in his private accounts, then he returned the amount to the NHIS, but received the interest from this money which totaled “sixty three million, seven hundred and sixty three thousand, thirteen naira”.

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Mohammed Lecky. Credits: The Nation

“No evidence was seen suggesting that the board or the minister of health gave approval for the placement of the funds in the various banks. It was the sole decision of the executive secretary.”

The report further discloses that Lecky was part of fraudulent schemes connected with contract awarding and company incorporation.

The conclusion reads:

“A case of misappropriation of public funds cannot be established against Mr Lecky but a case of abuse of office could be sustained against the suspect on the basis of conflict of interest by influencing the award of a contract to a company in which his cousin is the director.”

President Buhari made a series of important appointments on Thursday  as he named Mahmood Yakubu as the new chairman for the INEC and Dan-Azumi Ibrahim as the director general of the National Office for Technological Acquisition and Promotion. This comes amid the ministerial screening by the Senate. Yesterday the Red Chamber screened the former Rivers state governor Rotimi Amaechi.