EXCLUSIVE: Buhari Sacks Christian Pilgrims’ Boss, Tor Ujah

President Muhamamdu Buhari has terminated the appointment of the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Tor. Ujah.

THE WHISTLER sighted Ujah’s termination letter which says his removal is with immediate effect.

The letter said Buhari’s sacking of the NCPC boss “is in line with the provisions of Section 4, sub section 3 of the NCPC ACT.”

The President directed Ujah to hand over the affairs of the Commission to the most senior director who will take charge till a new substantive CEO is appointed.

Mr Ujah, who was appointed in 2016, had been probed by the Nigerian Government for alleged fraud in the NCPC. He was accused of diverting funds meant for the commission for other use.

AGF Idris was also directed by the President to “put in place a robust reporting  and sanction  framework  for monitoring  the performance of officers that visit MDAs for team inspection, monitoring  and survey,” and “set in motion the process  for the review of the enabling act of the Commission, working with the Presidency and all stakeholders.”

Beginning Of Ujah’s Travail

In October 2018, barely three years of Ujah’s appointment, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, ordered his probe over allegations of fraud.

The NCPC boss was alleged to have diverted $229,000 meant for pilgrims’ visit to Israel, Greece and Rome in July 2017.

“The secretary to the government of the federation is in receipt of a report, alluding to the fact that the funds of the Nigeria’ Christian Pilgrims Commission are being mismanaged,” a document signed by the SGF’s legal adviser, Emmanuel Akissa, had read.

The SGF also ordered investigation into 10 different payment vouchers issued under Ujah between 2017 and 2018.

The investigation was carried out an eight-man panel headed by the chairman of the NCPC’s board, Yomi Kasali.

It was gathered that the panel investigated amongst others, the transfer of N1 billion meant for the commission’s local budget into the commission’s offshore account between 2016 and 2017.

It is believed that the culmination of the investigation led to Ujah’s sacking by President Buhari.

Following his dismissal, the President ordered the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris, to work out a framework for the operation of the offshore accounts maintained by the NCPC.