Some volunteer members of Adamawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS), have petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) over alleged fraud perpetrated by the Acting Adamawa State Secretary of the society, Muhammad Saidu Bello.
The volunteers numbering 35 in number drawn from Yola North, Girei, Gombi, Numan, Madagali, Michika and Lamurde divisions of the society attached some photocopies of what they described as evidence from an investigative committee constituted by the NRSC that investigated Bello.
Some of the allegations against Bello include diversion of money realized from the society’s shop and guest house located in Yola and Mubi towns respectively as well as non disbursement of subscription funds.
Other allegations include intimidation of volunteers, engaging non volunteer members in activities of NRSC, bias in the appointment of officials and misuse of the society’s emblem.
According to the petitioners who had earlier petitioned the branch Legal Adviser of the society on the allegations against the secretary’s actions, the misused of the society emblem as stipulated by Cap 5 of the amended Statutes of the NRCS is expulsion of violator.
“The use of Red Cross Emblem is regulated by the law, in accordance, with international conventions and any member, volunteer and staff contravening this rule or otherwise misusing the emblem shall be liable to be expelled from the society in addition to any punishment prescribed under the law.
“This alleged official Muhammad Saidu Bello is on acting capacity for the past four years which contravenes the NRCS amended statutes 2010 exceeding the said period of six months as contained thereof in the amended statutes.” the petitioners stated in their write up.
Meanwhile, a report of the five member investigation committee set up by the Governing Board of the Adamawa branch of the NRCS to investigate the allegations against the acting secretary recommended among others that the branch secretary should be made to explain the whereabouts of over N3 million realized from the society’s guest house and rented shops.
The committee also recommended the disengagement of the branch secretary from the service of Adamawa branch of NRCS in line with the provision of item 7 of the NRCS statutes 2010.
Mohammed Musa
July 23, 2019 at 2:51 pm
I think this your newspaper have no market that why they published this news and also they are not current. You are publishing the news today 23th July, 2019 while the petition receiving date is 11th March, 2019.
Mohammed Ahmadu
July 23, 2019 at 7:38 pm
These are unfounded allegation, the said petitioner is not a certified member of NRCS because he is not paying his yearly dues as stipulated by the act.
On the issue of Red cross shop,red cross has no shop of any type in Adamawa.on the issue of Guest House lies with the Exco not the secretary. its only the people with personal interest that sat and wrote this,this so called petition was written on March 13/2019 and received on march 15 /2019,this is not true and baseless.
Umar Garba
July 25, 2019 at 3:06 pm
Justice for red cross member we need change
Nwakpa O. Nwakpa, Head of Communication and Advocacy, Nigerian Red Cross Society
August 26, 2019 at 4:58 pm
Rejoinder: ICPC probes N200m missing in Adamawa Branch of Nigerian Red Cros
(https://www.redcrossnigeria.org/press_release
The attention of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, National Headquarters, has been drawn to publications by the Guardian Newspaper (ICPC probes N200m allegedly missing in Red Cross) on the 21st of August, 2019, the Hawk (Adamawa: Members of Red Cross Society drags Secretary to ICPC for alleged fraud) on the 26th of July, 2019 and the Almajiri (Adamawa Members of Red Cross Society drags Secretary to ICPC for alleged fraud) on the 26th July, 2019
We acknowledge that there is a petition written by some volunteers of Adamawa Branch against the Branch Secretary, Mohammad Saidu Bello, to Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) alleging financial irregularities among other things.
We wish to state here that we frown seriously at and do not take lightly any form of financial and material misappropriation, diversion, and or embezzlement for whatsoever reason or guise. Anyone found guilty of such will never be spared. Thus, the NRCS National Headquarters had since directed the Adamawa Branch Executive Committee to take necessary actions and ensure that the Branch Secretary and any other Branch staff, Officers and volunteers corporate with the ICPC while the investigation lasts. We have also set up an ad-voc committee to carry out the necessary internal mechanism as guided by our principles and statutes.
We wish to also inform the Public that the entire Red Cross is not under investigation but only the Branch Secretary of Adamawa state.
We are committed to serving humanity and fulfilling our mission which is to alleviate the situation of the most vulnerable people which include those affected by disasters, epidemics, armed conflicts, and the poorest communities in both urban and rural areas amongst whom are women, children, aged, displaced, disabled and other vulnerable people.
Abubakar Kende
Secretary General