Mr Yisa Usman, the sacked deputy director of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has said that he was determined to expose corruption in the board irrespective of the threat and intimidation against him.
Usman told Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, while being cross-examined as the sole witness in the suit instituted against JAMB over his alleged unlawful dismissal.
While responding to questions put to him by counsel to JAMB, A. A. Owonikoko, the witness admitted writing petitions to various government agencies over alleged corruption in the board.
The aggrieved ex-worker, who admitted receiving queries from the board and an invitation letter to appear before a disciplinary committee before his job was terminated, said he answered the queries and wrote a protest letter against the composition of the committee.
When Owonikoko asked Usman about the email message attached to the invitation letter, dated May 17, 2023, in response to the disciplinary committee’s invitation, the witness admitted writing the reply.
The lawyer then asked Usman to read out the printout of the email message dated May 18, 2023, in open court.
The witness, while reading, said, “Dear Directors, this is a follow-up to the two queries issued to me. I received a letter of invitation on Tuesday, 16th May 2023, to appear before the Disciplinary Committee. The attached is my response to the invitation for your information.
“This new development only renews my determination to continue with my quest for justice and my fight against the corrupt practices that have characterised our organisation in the past six to seven years, which I stated in the letter, are perpetrated under the cover of the remittances made to the government.
“It is of note that I am invited to appear before the Disciplinary Committee while my contemporaries are invited to promotional examination to substantive director.“But I am not bothered because I do know for certain that God alone promotes.
“I am not deterred by this development, nor am I intimidated in any way.
“The fight against corruption and abuse of authority is the responsibility of every Nigerian. The law will take its course, no matter how long it takes. Thank you.”
He told the court that his reply to the query was submitted in hard copy to his immediate superior, and because he wanted all members of the management to be privy to what was going on, he also sent the message to the email addresses of the directors.
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The ex-staff admitted writing several petitions against JAMB to different investigating agencies, including National Assembly, about the alleged financial infractions under the current JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.
He admitted writing to the Attorney General for the Federation, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and Department of State Services.
When the lawyer asked him if all his petitions were directed at indicting the JAMB registrar as corrupt, Usman responded in the affirmative.
Owonikoko also asked Usman to read out the last two paragraphs in his response to the disciplinary committee. The paragraph reads partly,”As a committed Nigerian citizen, my loyalty remains first to the nation before any individual. The fight against corruption is the responsibility of everyone.
“The threat of the registrar to cause me harm or have my appointment terminated will not deter me, nor will the continued attempt to malign me. I remain determined in the fight for justice and against the corrupt practices in the system. I will not back down for any reason until justice is done and seen to be done.
“And while I look up to God for complete respite, I wish to state here that my life has been under constant threat for the bold action I took to disclose the corrupt practices in JAMB and the abuse of authority by the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.
“I reported this to the DSS and the IGP previously. I am again stating here that if anything happens to me, the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and his DFA, Mr. Mufutau Bello, should be held responsible.”
(Vanguard)
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