Former Group General Manager of the NNPC Upstream Investment Commission (NAPIMS), Bala Wunti.
By AUSTINE TSENZUGHUL, Bauchi –
A recent petition by the Community Development Committees (CDCs) titled “INVESTIGATE WUNTI” and addressed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has come under fire for lacking substantial evidence.
The petition calls for an investigation into the conduct of former Group General Manager of the NNPC Upstream Investment Commission (NAPIMS), Bala Wunti.
According to John Akevi, leader of the Development Pressure Initiative (DePI), “The petition’s central flaw is its overreliance on uncorroborated whistleblower testimony.”
Akevi emphasized that serious allegations of budgetary improprieties and manipulation of crude oil transactions remain unsubstantiated, lacking concrete financial records or demonstrable contractual inconsistencies.
“The absence of a detailed ‘modus operandi’ – a clear exposition of the alleged fraudulent scheme – renders these accusations fundamentally unpersuasive,” Akevi stated.
He urged the CDC to bolster its claims with irrefutable documentation and a meticulously detailed account of the alleged scheme before pursuing further action.
Akevi also criticized the CDC’s implicit criticism of the EFCC’s perceived inertia, saying, “While acknowledging the validity of concerns regarding investigative timelines, it’s imperative that the EFCC’s limited resources be judiciously allocated to cases supported by robust and verifiable evidence.”
The Development Pressure Initiative leader concluded that the CDC’s concerns regarding potential malfeasance are legitimate but that the “INVESTIGATE WUNTI” petition falls short of providing necessary evidence.
“The pursuit of unsubstantiated allegations serves only to undermine genuine efforts towards good governance and wastes valuable resources,” Akevi said.
