By Nsna Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
All seems not to be well with the leadership of Cross River Basin Development Authority over the mysterious disappearance of an MF 275 tractor, which belongs to the authority.
Problem began at the parastatal last year after two young men stormed premises of the CRBDA, and moved straight to the vehicle yard where other farm machinery are parked and made a way with tractor.
A source told our correspondent that component of the tractor had been recovered from the MD of the authority personal farm at Ayanghase Farm in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, kilometers away from the state capital by a crack team of The Nigerian Police, who had been on the trail of the tractor.
The Investigating Police Officer, IPO, Supol Edet Okoho, informed in a telephone conversation, that the CRSBDA Managing Director had at the time of filing this report been invited by a crack team of detectives from the Police Anti-Robbery unit, State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Calabar for questioning on Tuesday.
When contacted to speak on the matter, the IPO declined making further comments, claiming that it’s against police rules to speak on the issue as he has no right to give details on the matter, except the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO.
On why the police has invited the MD to visit the police on Tuesday, he said he is to answer questions on how a N9 million tractor developed wings and flew away from the premises of the CRBDA without any obstruction from the security personnel of the establishment.
Our correspondent however gathered that the tractor was driven by two young men who had stormed the vehicle yard of the CRBDA on October 6, 2023, in the evening with 300 litres of diesel, tractor’s battery and authorization letter addressed to the Chief Security Officer of the authority.
The letter, purported to have been issued by a high ranking officer in the organization, authorized the release of the tractor to the the two strangers so that they can make the tractor available for physical inspection by external auditors, stressing that the tractor has to be returned the following day once the exercise was over.
The two young men also presented to the security supervisor the tractor ignition keys that ought to be in the custody of either the workers’ union chairman, Mr. Joe Effiong or the MD, Engr. Bassey Nkposong, perhaps to enable them have their way.
Country Director of a non-governmental organization, NGO, operating in Nigeria under the aegis of Rescue Support Initiative RSI, Barr. Ayei Okpa, who has been championing the agitation for accountability and transparency in the recovery of the missing tractor expressed dismay over attempt by the CRBDA management to victimize the principal Works Superintendent, Mr. Mission Udo, notwithstanding the fact that the victim had already approached the court.
Ayei, who is also in charge of arraignment in court with the works officer, said he was surprised when he learned that those at the top echelon of the organization had been struggling to exonerate from the dragnet, but eager to rope the works officer into the matter in suit No. MC/188C/2024 at the magistrate court, presided by Chief Magistrate E.A Orim
A letter with reference number: CRB/AD/M.5/5/Vol XIII, dated September 10, 2024, inviting the works superintendent to appear before a disciplinary committee set up by management of CRBDA was jettisoned by the court, as that will amount to taking the law into their hands and as such render the invitation null and void.
When contacted on the issue, the workers’ union chairman of CRBDA, Mr. Joseph Etim Effiong, said, “I can’t speak with a journalist on telephone unless you visit our office.”
CRBDA Managing Director, Engr. Bassey. Nkposong, who had denied any wrong was contacted via a telephone call for his own side of the story. He described the allegations as black mail ochestrated by certain individuals that were out to pull him down.
But the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Irene Ugbo, who was called as at the time of filing in this report said, “I will get back to you once I ma able to get real information on the issue from Supol Edet Effiong, who is the IPO.
