In a startling revelation, internal strife plagues the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Secretariat in Abuja, with top officials embroiled in accusations of financial fraud and recklessness. The NGF Director of Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, has sent a letter to NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, shedding light on what he describes as the secretariat’s transformation into a more transactional entity than a developmental force.

Barkindo, in a leaked letter, alleges that the NGF has become a “conduit pipe for a few individuals” rather than an agent of change. He calls for a forensic audit of all NGF accounts, including those established during crisis periods, citing a lack of auditing for over a decade. The letter accuses a select few of turning the Forum and its finances into their personal fiefdom, stating, “The secretariat’s accounts have not been audited in the last decade, to say the least.”

Highlighting financial discrepancies, Barkindo questions the absence of a qualified accountant in an organization overseeing substantial deals like the Paris-London refunds. He reveals instances where significant sums, such as the N630m deductions from the N5bn infrastructure support fund, led to disputes among governors, casting shadows on Chairman AbdulRasaq’s leadership.

The letter concludes with a call for a thorough forensic audit to scrutinize all NGF accounts, particularly those established during crises, to ensure transparency and accountability.

Credit: Imran Muhammad/X