A factional Acting Director General (Ag DG), National Commission for the Coordination and Control of Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NATCOM), Otunba Adejare Rewane Adegbenro has reassured Nigerians of his agency’s determination to make Nigeria free from illegal arms, even as he also reacted to an online report which claimed that he has been suspended from office.
In a statement from his office, made available to journalists yesterday, by Paul Effiong in Abuja, the NATCOM boss who described the report as laughable and a joke explained that he has been working quietly round the clock to rebrand and make the agency viable in order for it to carry out its mandate for the benefit of Nigerians.
He also spoke on the circumstances that led to the alleged removal of the former Baba Mohammed as the Ag DG of the commission. Urging Nigerians to be wary of those who claim ownership of the agency, he alleged that his agency initially had Baba Mohammed as DG, but was removed owing to his divide and rule pattern of leadership.
Recall that NATCOM had on 3rd June 2023 allegedly removed Baba Mohammad as director general sequel to a vote of no confidence passed on him by the commission’s Councils of Directors/Commandants over allegations boardering on high-handedness and financial impropriety.
According to the statement, the Council of Directors/Commandants had also warned the former acting DG to stop Parading himself as the head of the commission or face legal action and consequences.
This medium was reliably informed that Otunba Adegbenro upon assumption of office has brought several innovation and reformation to the commission. Although in acting capacity, the incumbent NATCOM boss has engage many critical stakeholders to ensure the success of it’s mandates for the country and her citizenry.
He also recalled a media publication about the former DG which he said was on the Leadership newspapers of 20th June 2023. The statement also disclosed that Baba Mohammed, an Ag DG in his own camp has been invited by the Nigerian Police Force Special Criminal Investigation Department, to appear before it to respond to allegations of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, forgery and impersonation sequel to a petition written against him.
The statement further alleged that the commission informed that the vote of no confidence on facrional DG was as a result of image problem and lack of capacity, such as diversion of the proposed orientation/capacity building budget account for personal use, lack of accountability and transparency, no internally Generated Revenue, IGR, accounting/audit stewardship report for two and half years, extortion and sale of executive/senior cadre position for personal monetary gain rather than professionalism.
A media publication to this effect according to the release, which was made on the Leadership Newspapers of 20th June 2023, reiterated the warning to disregard the DG as dealing with the agency. It however added that the Adegbenro – led faction has been calling on the Mohammed – led faction to hand over all the properties in its possession to Adegbenro – led faction, directing that the former national head office located at Lugard Street be moved to area 11 at No 24 Nkwere Street.
Recalled that with a wave of hannd in our last interview with Baba Mohammed, he treated his removal as the Ag DG of the organisation as laughable. Maintaining that there had never been any faction in the organisation, as well as that he is still the authentic Ag CG of the organisation, he denied the allegation that he has sacked non Igala people in NATCOM and replaced them with Igala people. “We only legitimately sacked those who were incompetent in office, “he stated.