‘I resigned since April 2019’ — REA MD denies claim of being director at Velocity Logistics

Salihijo Ahmad, managing director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has denied holding the position of director in Velocity Logistics and Marine Services Limited.

Some petitioners had filed a petition at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) accusing Ahmad of a conflict of interest.

They also alleged that Ahmad is a director at Velocity Logistics and Marine Services Ltd and that he influenced a contract to be awarded to the company.

The CCB Act prohibits government officials from operating private businesses except farming.

In a statement on Saturday, Ahmad said he relinquished his position at the company before taking up the appointment as MD of REA.

“It became necessary to respond to this claim as it is untrue and defamatory. For the sake of clarity, I want to emphasise that my employment history had been thoroughly vetted and approved by the appropriate authorities, upon my assumption to the role of MD/CEO at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) on the 29th of December, 2019,” Salihijo said.

“Prior to taking on this critical role at the agency, I had been in the private sector and had equally relinquished my position as one of the directors of Velocity as far back as the 25th of April, 2019, long before I was appointed MD/CEO of the REA.”

Ahmad said the details are accessible and available at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), adding that he has always acted with the highest ethical standards and has never engaged in any behaviour that conflicts with the interest of his position as the MD of REA.

“I am in no way privy to any business dealings between Donnington Nigeria Limited and Velocity as I have had no connection whatsoever with Velocity since 25th of April, 2019,” he said.

He described the petition which was published online as “unfortunate”, adding that it was “made and directed to harm my reputation, defame my character and that of the agency I lead”.

“I hereby demand that the publisher and the petitioner retract this unfounded allegation, publish a rejoinder to set the records straight, and desist from further defamatory publications,” the REA MD said.