The MD/CEO Formal Act Legacy, Dr. Bashir Ibrahim Bello
By our Reporter
Formal Act Legacy Limited, No. 18 Sambo Road, Kaduna State.
Zip Code 800001
formalactlegacy@gmail.com
+234711111495
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria.
Dear Mr. President,
*Re: Urgent Attention Required: EFCC's Interference in Grant-Funded Community Development Initiative*
We write to bring to your attention a pressing matter that requires your immediate intervention.
The United Charity Foundation (UCF) FICOD, a donor organization, has been implementing a grant-funded community development initiative in Nigeria through its local partner, Formal Act Legacy.
Sir, it is worthy of note that the above named organization played a vital and significant role in the victory of APC as a political party in the 2023 general elections both in Kaduna state and at the national level.
However, the project's progress has been severely hindered by interference from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and some government officials in Kaduna State, in which the commission purportedly claimed receiving of petitions alleging to investigate a case involving the sum of 30 billion, an amount that is three times the entire funds earmarked for the projects.
The project's objective is to provide essential grassroots infrastructure, water, health, and education support to 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Nigeria, starting with 22 LGA in Kaduna State.
Unfortunately, the project's progress has been stalled due to the unilateral removal of Formal Act Legacy as signatory to the project account, prompting donors to halt disbursements citing risk and lack of financial oversight.
Furthermore, payments to contractors have been frustrated by some government officials for over two years through connivance with different security agencies. We find it unacceptable that contractors who have worked tirelessly to deliver essential infrastructure and services to the communities have not been paid for their work.
This has led to significant financial hardship for the contractors and has undermined the project's progress.
Although there was a petition which was initially written to EFCC by a group of contractors that were instigated by the government officials, a group called G-9, same was duly analysed by the officials and it was revealed that there is no element of criminality in the entire contracts awarded to them. Then, the officials of the EFCC in collaboration with members of G-9 group resort to solicitation and calling for petitions to be written by individual contractors from all angles against the Formal Act Legacy irrespective of wether those contractors have case or not.
The EFCC's recent involvement in this matter has been unlawful and has further exacerbated the situation. As the Managing Director and CEO of Formal Act Legacy, was arrested, detained for 71 days and mugshot in an issue bordering on contract agreements which is purely civil without formal questioning or proper investigation.
The EFCC has also raided Formal Act Legacy's office, seized project vehicles, confiscated staff property, donor assets including drugs, hospital facilities, schools furniture, among others, causing significant disruption to the organization's activities.
Instead of the EFCC to invite all the parties that have hands in the matters to proffer solutions, they chose to side themselves with some Kaduna state government officials who were in the habit of instigating contractors without considering who was paid already or not to write petition against Formal Act Legacy Consultant. An act that worsen the situation and further delayed the process of payments for the contractors involved.
That it was part of the act of the state officials mentioned above masterminding and initiating a group out of the contractors called G-9 group which was used to file a petition with the EFCC notwithstanding the fact that the state officials actions were part of the reason why they sponsored freezing of the Formal Act Legacy account, an account meant for the payment of the grant by the donors for the funding of the projects awarded.
This can be revealed further by their actions of hijacking the entire programme from Formal Act Legacy and decided to remove its officials as signatories to the joint account meant for funding the projects while knowing fully that the state is not contributing to the funding of the programme, an action which was resisted by the donors haven open a new wallet, PFRW
(Project funds Reservation wallet) where they sent their grant in, and invited the MD of Formal Act Legacy to attend a board meeting in UK for him to be briefed as to how the wallet would be operated.
This effort was also not successful as the MD could not travel out for a reason that till date remains unexplained to him by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officials. However, it was later revealed that the Kaduna state officials masterminded their way through through some enforcement officers used to frustrate his access to travel and placed him under watch.
It will interest you to know sir, that in all the Formal Act Legacy LGAs' intervention, no fewer than 100 solar powered bore holes were drilled in each LGA and a quite number of hand pumped boreholes, renovation of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) which we intend to equip with facilities such as ambulances and ensure free medication.
However, we could not achieve some of the interventions in schools and hospitals as intended due to the attitude of some of the state officials and recent act of EFCC who seized/sealed some of the school furniture, hospital equipments and drugs.
Sir, we feel that the attitude of some officials of Kaduna state government and that of the EFCC is an act of sabotage to your Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to ameliorate some of the problems lingering progress at the grassroot level.
We seek your urgent intervention to address this situation and ensure that the project's progress is not further hindered. Specifically, we request that you:
1. Direct the relevant authorities to meet up with the necessary conditions for the release of funds to pay contractors for work done and ensure that future payments are made in a timely manner
2. Ensure that the relevant authorities take necessary steps to protect the interests of UCF-FICOD and the credibility of Nigeria in the global development community.
3. Provide support and protection to Formal Act Legacy and its staff, who are working tirelessly to deliver essential services to the communities.
4. Consider establishing a special task force to oversee the implementation of the project and ensure that it is completed successfully.
5. Order an investigation into the actions of the EFCC and government officials in Kaduna State that have hindered the project's progress for their selfish interest and take necessary disciplinary action.
We believe that your administration is committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance.
We also urge you to use your office to ensure that the rights of UCF-FICOD and its beneficiaries are protected and that justice is served in this matter.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely, Dr. Bashir Ibrahim Bello, MD/CEO, Formal Act Legacy Ltd.
United Charity Foundation (UCF) FICOD
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