All plans are on deck by the Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and his committee members to checkmate the scandal rocking the Ministry of Agriculture in connection with the allegedly buying of N7 billion uncompleted building.
Senator Adamusaid the probe was on the activities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development by its former Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Bello.
He told newsmen in Abuja that they have decided to investigate the matter thoroughly.
An official in the ministry of Agriculture who pleaded anonymity , said though Dr Bello has been cleared of all the allegations, but the Senate committee are adamant and want to go ahead with its investigations.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi Esan had queried the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Mohammed Bello, for allegedly buying what it described as an “uncompleted carcass” building for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for N7 billion during his tenure as agric permanent secretary.
Staff of the ministry have embarked on daily protest in front of the ministry for poor welfare package, they also complained that the disagreement between the ministry directors and the permanent secretary is affecting work activities among others.
He was also accused of giving out seven deep drilling rigs for borehole procured at N1.3 billion to some unnamed individuals under alleged fraudulent arrangements.
According to an official in the ministry of Agriculture the Permanent Secretary had been cleared by the EFCC, claiming that during Bello’s tenure as Permanent secretary in agric, he helped sanitise the ministry.
The agric sector is key to the government presently as the government is working all it can to diversify the economy.
The former Permanent Secretary who is now the Perm Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Mohammed Bello had denied allegations of financial misconduct levelled against him in his last tour of duty at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
However, in his reply to the query dated May 14th, 2020 by a leaked copy of which was obtained to newsmen , Bello said the immediate past Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh and the Federal Executive Council FEC actually gave approval for the purchase of the building.
