A former Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr Michael C. Akabogu, has levelled sweeping allegations of corruption, criminal conspiracy, forgery, abuse of office and threats to life against former Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and senior officials of the Fund.
In a detailed petition and narrative made public, Akabogu said he was appointed MD/CE of the NSITF on June 1, 2021, following what he described as due diligence by security and anti-corruption agencies, including the DSS, ICPC and EFCC. He alleged that shortly before and after his inauguration, the supervising minister, Dr Ngige, warned him that he would be “disgraced out of office” if he failed to work cordially with certain senior officials of the NSITF.
Akabogu further claimed that he was compelled to sign an undated resignation letter on the day of his inauguration, allegedly as a condition for his appointment, which he said was later used to intimidate and threaten him with removal from office.
The former NSITF boss accused the minister and some top officials of routinely interfering in the Fund’s administration, particularly in procurement matters, to push through contracts and payments in violation of due process. He alleged that procurement processes were effectively taken over by officials acting on the minister’s directives, leading to the award of what he described as phantom and inflated contracts.
Central to his claims is the controversial automation project of the NSITF, known as the “E-NSITF,” which received Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval in 2022 at a cost of about ₦2.86 billion. Akabogu alleged that the contractor, P2E Technologies Limited, submitted fake advance payment guarantees and performance bonds, yet funds were released without his consent.
He further claimed that bank correspondence questioning the project’s level of completion was intercepted by senior officials, who allegedly authorised payments without his knowledge. According to him, attempts to query the irregularities were met with threats and warnings from the minister.
Akabogu also alleged that despite the incomplete first phase of the E-NSITF project, the minister pushed for a second phase valued at about ₦5 billion, alongside additional infrastructure costs that could allegedly run into tens of billions of naira over time. He said he refused to endorse the second phase, describing it as fraudulent and unethical.
The former MD also raised concerns over an alleged attempt to procure a property for the NSITF through questionable means. He claimed that legal searches showed the property belonged to Royal Exchange Assurance Nigeria Plc, but payment beneficiaries were repeatedly changed in draft FEC memos without his knowledge.
Akabogu alleged that a memo purportedly authored by him was submitted to the FEC without his consent, describing the act as forgery. He further claimed that, in his absence, an award letter was issued to a company linked to the same contractors involved in the E-NSITF project, despite the absence of FEC approval.
He also accused the minister and some officials of violating procurement rules by awarding contracts without cash backing, despite the NSITF facing significant financial exposure running into billions of naira.
In addition, Akabogu alleged irregularities in contracts for the production of medical prostheses, claiming that payments totalling over ₦200 million were made to favoured companies without his approval, while he was on leave.
In one of the most serious allegations, Akabogu claimed that on August 28, 2022, he was physically assaulted at the minister’s residence after refusing to sign procurement documents. He alleged that the minister threatened to kill him and vowed to ruin his life if he continued to resist his directives.
Unlawful Removal from Office
Akabogu said his refusal to endorse what he described as corrupt practices ultimately led to his removal from office. He confirmed receiving a letter dated February 3, 2023, purportedly removing him as MD/CE of the NSITF, which he described as unlawful and without justification.
In his conclusion, the former NSITF chief alleged that officials he accused of wrongdoing were later promoted or reappointed, while individuals he said attempted to uphold due process were sidelined. He called on relevant authorities to institute a full investigation into the allegations and prosecute anyone found culpable.
Akabogu said he is willing to provide documents and further testimony to support his claims.
