Nigeria Ambassador in soup over $210,560 scam
By Steve Oko
The Nigerian Ambassador to Kuwait, Mohammed Garba Gajam, may have landed into trouble over allegation of flouting presidential directive , and for alleged misappropriation of $210,560 equivalent of over N73,696,000 million .
The Embassy had applied for $800,000 Special Intervention fund for the defrayal of accumulated debt in Kuwait.
Some items covered in the debt include arrears of rent ,school fees, salary arrears of local embassy staff ,among others.
Sequel to the application, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of the sum of $210,560. for the mission while the balance would be later accommodated.
A letter from the Account Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated March 14, 2019 ,with reference number Accts/F.16/2019 conveyed the presidential approval.
The letter was addressed to the Head of Chancery Embassy of Nigeria, Kuwait .
In the letter entitled ‘A. I. E No. MFA /MS/INTV/006/2019,’ the mission was specifically directed to ensure the funds were disbursed according to the items for which approval was made, with a terse warning against any abuse .
A copy of the letter made available to Wawa News Global read in part : release of Special Intervention approved by Mr. President for settlement of outstanding obligations to local staff including severance gratuities and compulsory social security contribution for the mission.”
But in apparent disregard to the presidential directive, the Ambassador in connivance with the Head of Chancery ,HOC, allegedly cornered the largess , disbursing it as they like.
Some staff of the Embassy who were said to have been denied of their entitlements in the funds wrote a petition against the Ambassador and the HOC.
A copy of the petition was also made available to Wawa News Global.
The petition which read :”Report on violation of presidential directive”, accused the Ambassador “of always claiming that this is his Mission and that he must run it as he deems fit”.
It further accused him and the HOC of reducing the Foreign Affairs ministry which should be their supervisory body to a toothless bulldog .
“We discovered there is a desperation to squander any fund that comes into the mission and no amount of caution will stop the Ambassador and the HOC “, the petition said.
An impeccable source told Wawa News Global that apart from flouting presidential directives, the Ambassador has also been antagonistic to some embassy staff and other Nigerians in Kuwait .
The source claimed that Southerns have been the target of the Ambassador’s excesses .
The source appealed to the Presidency to call the Ambassador to order “before he frustrates more Nigerians in Kuwait.”
But Wawa News could not reach the Ambassador for his reaction .
There was also an allegation of similar attitude by other Ambassadors in the Middle East and some countries in Europe and America who behave as Lords.
Below are some copies of the documents made available to Wawa News Global :
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