The Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, (SMEDAN), Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda and the entire management have been absolved of any wrong doing, contrary to the report making the rounds.
Radda and the entire management of the SMEDAN was alleged to have paid the sum of N1.3 billion to unverified contractors.
But the Director of Programs, Civil Society Groups for Good Governance, Comrade Olorunfemi Edwin debunked the report, saying the allegation of corruption against SMEDAN managment was misleading.
Edwin claimed that the report which was making the rounds was not a balanced narrative, neither a true reflection of the issue.
He said “our organisation along with the antigraft agencies have launch an independent Inquiry on the said matter and our findings reveal that the contractors were duly procured and all projects executed according to the terms of engagement before payment.”
He further added, “While as a group we support citizen actions against corruption especially under this administration, we find it extremely worrisome that certain individuals have made it an avenue for malicious publication and witch hunting exercise.
“More worrisome is the fact that it is obvious that those responsible for the publication against the management of SMEDAN appear ignorant of the modus operandi of government operations and therefore delve into realms that question their integrity on matters that bothers on government spending.
“For the records, this is not only an attack on SMEDAN but the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as no sane government with all the instrumentality for ensuring due process and diligence whill carelessly make public funds available to contractors without proper verification.
“We find the report curious and unpatriotic as no efforts were made to balance the narrative as our organisation along with the antigraft agencies have launch an independent Inquiry on the said matter and our findings reveal that the contractors were duly procured and all projects executed according to the terms of engagement before payment.”
