Sacked ex-TETFund boss accuses education minister of bribery | EduCeleb
EduCeleb
23rd January 2019
The recently sacked former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Abdullahi Bichi Baffa has accused Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu of bribery.
Recall that Dr Baffa was on Monday fired by President Muhammadu Buhari from the office he had held since August 2016.
While speaking on a BBC Hausa programme, he claimed he was relieved of the position for refusing to give a N200 million bribe to the minister.
“The minister had demanded kickbacks from me. He sent a contractor for that purpose and even had the strength to dictate that amount of money.
“By his estimation, he said even if I deducted 10% from each institution, I would have collected at least N20 billion.
“I want to assure you that I’ve never collected a single naira from any institution as he thought and if he or anybody has evidence to prove against me, I will be willing to accept the death penalty,” Baffa insisted.
He revealed that he had got hint of his impending sack from sources within Aso Rock on Friday based on pressure from the minister.
“On Friday night, I was informed at the Presidential Villa that the Minister of Education came with a letter reporting me to the president,” the ex-TETFund chief said.
He added that his sources told him that the minister alleged him of inaccessibility, insubordination, and speaking to the press without approval – allegations he expressly denied in the broadcast.
He stated that he had “no regrets” for disobeying “the minister’s directives because I cannot sabotage my country.”
had earlier quoted the Deputy spokesman of Ministry of Education, Ben Goong who disclosed that Baffa was replaced “with immediate effect” by his predecessor, Professor Suleiman Bogoro but did not give an official reason for his sack.
Mr Goong is yet to comment on the allegation leveled against the Minister since when we contacted him.