Serious allegations of financial misconduct, abuse of office and corruption in the auction processes, and diverêsion of internally generated revenue (IGR) have emerged against the current leadership of the Chad Basin Development Authority, in Borno state, following claims made by concerned staff of the agency who are calling for urgent Federal Government intervention.

The allegations, lies at the core of a controversial auction exercise, alleged non-remittance of revenues, and suspected sale of recently procured government assets under questionable circumstances.

The current management is led by Managing Director/CEO, Tijjani Musa Tumsah, alongside the Chairman of the Board, Prof. Abdu Dauda Biu, and executive directors including Engr. Mohammed Shettima (Engineering), Bashir Bukar Baale (Finance and Administration), Muazu Iliyasu (Agricultural Services), and Vrati Nzonzo Sahulama (Planning and Design).

According to the whistleblowing staff, tensions within the Authority have escalated since the team assumed office around March 2025, with accusations that key decisions, particularly around asset disposal and revenue management have been carried out without due process or transparency.

Sources said that the auction exercise was reportedly initiated under the guise of disposing unserviceable vehicles and machinery. However, staff allege that the exercise has expanded beyond its original approval, allegedly including recently procured federal government’s assets between 2020 and 2023.

The sources said that Items reportedly listed for disposal include: Pay loaders, excavators, graders, bulldozers, Low loader and prime mover trucks, Howo tipper dumpers and fuel tankers, Combine harvesters and tractors, Vibrating rollers, hydro-flo pumps, drilling rigs, Gen erators, transformers, crane lorries.

Other included Official vehicles including Toyota Hilux fleets, Corolla units, and MD/ED official jeeps, Equipment linked to projects in New Marte and Ngala, including components of a reported 30-megawatt power station installation in New Marte

Many concerned staff allege that the auction, initially approved for unserviceable items, was allegedly extended to serviceable and recently acquired assets without proper justification.

The Whistleblowers further allege that the auction process was compromised by suspected financial inducements, including claims that the auctioneer allegedly facilitated payments amounting to ₦150 million and ₦300 million to influence approvals.

They also allege that a POS operator, identified as “Gulumba Enterprises” located opposite the Authority, was used to disburse approximately ₦17.5 million to staff accounts, with payments reportedly ranging between ₦50,000 and ₦500,000 per staff member, allegedly to reduce internal resistance to the auction process.

The staff further alleged that the exercise lacked compliance with key legal and regulatory frameworks, including: No stakeholder consultation with Borno, Yobe, and northern Adamawa communities, absence of public advertisement or transparent bidding process, no published list of bidders or successful auction outcomes, no clear justification for disposal of assets.

According to them the process was not in compliance with the Public Procurement Act (2007), Financial Regulations, Public Service Rules, and Finance Act. There was also no evidence of approvals from relevant federal oversight institutions such as the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), or Federal Executive Council (FEC)

One of the most serious allegations is that the same senior officials within the Authority are allegedly positioning themselves to acquire official vehicles and assets being auctioned.

Staff claims include allegations that: The MD is allegedly planning to acquire luxury vehicles including Land Cruiser SUVs, a Toyota Camry (2020 model), and a Toyota Hilux (2022 model), Executive Directors are allegedly positioned to acquire official Corolla vehicles currently in use, while the Board Chairman is allegedly linked to acquisition plans involving a Toyota Hilux (2022 model)

Concerned staff allege that if carried out, these transactions would leave the Authority without functional operational vehicles and equipment.

The report further alleges that Executive Directors overseeing Finance & Administration and Engineering have been involved in the diversion of revenue generated from hiring out heavy-duty equipment such as excavators, borehole rigs, tippers, and bulldozers.

According to the whistleblowers, payments from such services are allegedly made directly into personal accounts instead of being remitted to the IGR federal treasury. The CBDA guest house revenue stream was also mentioned as an area of concern, with allegations of irregular collection and reporting of funds.

Staff further allege that since assuming office, the leadership team has rarely maintained consistent presence at the Authority’s headquarters in Maiduguri.

According to the claims, senior officials are often absent for extended periods and allegedly return only at the end of the month for administrative processes linked to overhead allocations.

The whistleblowers further allege that no major development project has been initiated or completed under the current administration since their assumption of office.

The concerned staff are calling on anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to immediately investigate: The auction process and asset disposal procedures, alleged diversion of internally generated revenue, revenue leakages from equipment hiring services, alleged irregular financial disbursements to staff accounts and precut emerging compliance and approval processes

They insist that urgent intervention is necessary to prevent what they describe as “systematic depletion of CBDA assets and institutional collapse.”

As of the time of filing this report, no official response had been issued by the leadership of the Chad Basin Development Authority regarding the allegations.

Efforts to independently verify the claims remain ongoing, and none of the individuals named in the allegations have been found culpable by any court or investigative body. (Zagazola)

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