Coalition of civil society groups has declared the accusations by former Board Chairman of Project Development Institute (PRODA), Comrade Daniel Onjei against the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation as false.
The Former Board Chairman had allegedly accused the Minister, Mr Ogbonnaya Onu of unnecessary interference in the affairs of PRODA under the leadership of Dr Fabian Okonkwo, the most senior officer who took over following his (Onjei) suspension.
Recall that Last year, Comrade Onjei and the then Director General of PRODA, Dr Charles Agulana were suspended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) over alleged procurement deception, staff victimisation and management crisis rocking the institution.
The most senior officer of the Institute, Dr Fabian Okonkwo was thereafter nominated by the Minster of Science, Technology and Innovation, as the overseeing Director General pending the outcome of investigation in the matter.
Consequently, Dr Fabian was asked to step aside for the next most senior officer, Dr Arit Etukudo as overseeing DG of the Institute.
Comrade Onjei however did not resume back till the expiration of his tenure.
But the coalition, while addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, said it conducted an independent investigation to unravel the truth and discovered that the accusations peddled by the Former Board Chairman were fictitious.
It said the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation never interfered with the activities of PRODA while the investigation were going on, thereby respecting the principle of fair hearing.
The Coalition alleged that ex- PRODA Chairman, since the expiration of his tenure rather than focus on other meaningful project, has continued to cause crisis and confusion in the Institute by insisting that Dr Fabian Okonkwo remain an overseeing Director General.
They also stressed that Comrade Daniel Onjei has no legal right to question the power of the president to hire and fire.
In a bid to further clear the air, The Executive Secretary of the group, Engr Tijani Danjuma noted that while investigation were still ongoing, President Muhammadu Buhari approved a new Governing board which was later inaugurated.
He said “that sequel to the inauguration of this new board on the 14th of October, 2021, Dr Fabian Okonkwo who is merely the overseeing DG (not substantial DG) refused to call for an inaugural meeting.
“That several attempts made by the new Governing Board to meet according to their duties and functions were scuttled by Dr Okonkwo with objectionable reasons and at the same time, the Academic Staff Union allegedly wrote letters that it is still reporting to former Governing Board Members.
“That this inordinate attitude frustrating the inaugural meeting of the Board by Mr Okonkwo prompted the New Board to write several letters to the FMSTI requesting for his suspension.
“That instead of suspending the Overseeing Director General (Dr. Okonkwo) the Hon Minister in his wisdom sought for fair hearing and forwarded all the allegations and resolutions of the Governing Board to Dr Fabian Okonkwo and asked him to hold Board meeting with the new Governing Board to clear all allegations against him.
“That Dr Okonkwo yet resisted the board her legitimate and inaugural meeting, even when it was brought to his knowledge and attention that letters had been written to the FMSTI against the gross misconducts.
“That on the 29th of December, 2021, another letter was written to Dr Fabian Okonkwo to convene a Board meeting not later than 10th January, 2022 about 87 days after the Board was inaugurated by the Minister.
“That while all these refusal to call the inaugural meeting of the Board was going on, the FMSTI was as well overwhelmed by several petitions against Dr Okonkwo by contractors and Academic Staff Union of Research Institutes and the same time, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) indicted the management of PRODA led by Dr Fabian Okonkwo in their Audit report”.
The group also alledged that 90 days after the inauguration of Board members, PRODA suffered so much backlogs as a result of refusal by Dr Okonkwo to convoke the Board Inaugural meeting to discuss pressing issues.
The Coalition wondered why “Dan Onjei who was ordered to step aside by SGF and never recalled back till the expiration of his tenure, result to media campaign and misinforming the general public against PRODA and the FMSTI without mentioning the weighty allegations against him by contractors and staff that led the SGF to step him aside as the Board Chairman”.
Responding to the allegations by Comrade Onjei that the Overseeing Director General of Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Dr Chima Igwe is using a forged PhD certificate, the Civil Society Organisations said it is a matter for the court to decide.
The Organization further call on Nigerians to disregard what they described as baseless information from the Ex PRODA boss.
