Fraud: Group Asks ICPC to probe Bashir Ahmad for ‘receiving salaries’ after resigning as Buhari’s aide

The Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been asked by the Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) to look into Bashir Ahmad, a presidential adviser, for collecting pay after quitting his position.

Following Buhari’s order that political appointees in his cabinet who are running for office should resign, several reports had stated that Ahmad continued to get full pay from the federal government after his resignation in May.

Olanrewaju Suraju, chairman of HEDA, in a petition, said records from the Integrated Payroll & Personnel Information System (IPPIS) for federal officials showed Ahmad received a total of N3,129,530.64 in salaries for May, June and July, with his monthly salary standing at N1,043,176.88 and his take-home coming to N876,738.37 after statutory deductions.

According to HEDA chairman, Ahmad confirmed receiving the salaries and said he had returned the salaries.He said Ahmad, however, failed to provide any evidence of the refund.

“We write as a leading Anti-Corruption Organization in Nigeria, Non-partisan Human Rights and Development league with the mandate to protect and promote universally recognized human rights, public accountability, transparency and environmental justice in Nigeria and Africa, in accordance with International best standards for a thorough investigation and prosecution if found guilty,” the petition reads.

Suraju further stated that HEDA would continue to make efforts to combat unethical behavior and advance ethical corporate governance.

According to the petition, “We are relentless in our pursuit to see that the right things are done at the right time and place for the right results as long as it affects the interest of Nigerian citizens. We are an unapologetic permanent enemy of injustice, maladministration, mismanagement of public resources, abuse of power, and other corrupt practices.