The Senate Committee on Water Resources and Sanitation has invited the management of the Chad Basin Development Authority (CBDA) to appear before it over allegations of irregularities in the disposal of government assets and diversion of internally generated revenue.
In a letter dated May 26, 2026, signed by the Committee Clerk, Ememike Nwofor Leonard, the Committee directed the Managing Director of the Authority to appear on June 3, 2026, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. The agency is expected to present detailed documentation concerning the ongoing auction of government-owned assets.
The Committee expressed concern that it had not been briefed on the rationale, approval processes, or compliance with statutory regulations guiding the disposal of assets it described as strategic public infrastructure.
Invoking its oversight powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), alongside the Senate Standing Orders, 2023, the Committee requested full disclosure of asset registers, valuation reports, bidding procedures, and approvals from relevant agencies, including the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
The summons follows a series of allegations pointing to possible corruption and financial mismanagement within the Authority. These include claims of non-transparent asset auctions, diversion of revenue from equipment leasing services, and the sale of recently acquired government machinery and vehicles.
Whistleblowers within the CBDA alleged that the auction, initially presented as a routine disposal of unserviceable assets, was expanded to include functional and recently procured equipment acquired between 2020 and 2023.
The items reportedly involved include excavators, bulldozers, graders, drilling rigs, tractors, fuel tankers, and official vehicles such as Toyota Hilux and Corolla models, as well as equipment linked to federal projects in Borno State.
According to insiders, the disposal process was allegedly carried out without public advertisement, stakeholder engagement, or a transparent bidding framework, in violation of the Public Procurement Act (2007), Financial Regulations, and Public Service Rules.
They further alleged that the exercise lacked approvals from key institutions such as the Federal Executive Council (FEC), BPP, and BPE, describing the process as procedurally flawed.
The allegations centre on the Authority’s current leadership, led by Managing Director Tijjani Musa Tumsah and Board Chairman Prof. Abdu Dauda Biu, along with other senior officials.
Sources also claimed that some officials may have attempted to influence the auction process for personal gain, including efforts to acquire assets under disposal, raising concerns about conflict of interest and abuse of office.
Additional claims suggest that revenue generated from equipment leasing and guest house operations was diverted into private accounts instead of being remitted to government coffers, resulting in significant revenue leakages.
Whistleblowers further alleged that financial inducements were used to silence dissent within the agency, including reported cash disbursements through a POS operator to staff members.
They also raised concerns over the absence of major project execution since the current management assumed office in March 2025.
The Committee has requested that the CBDA provide comprehensive records, including asset registers, justification for disposals, valuation reports, bidding documents, and evidence of approvals from relevant authorities. It also demanded details of consultations with stakeholders in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states, as well as information on successful bidders and projected revenue from the asset sales.
Meanwhile, whistleblowers have called on anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to investigate the allegations.
As of the time of filing this report, the CBDA management had not issued any official response, and none of the individuals mentioned has been indicted by any court or investigative body.
The Senate Committee is expected to question the Authority’s leadership as part of its constitutional oversight duties.
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