On May 24, 2014, PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported that Gabriel Aduda, a former official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and brother to Senator Phillip Aduda, was arbitrarily appointed director at the Federal Ministry of Finance despite failing a compulsory confirmation/promotion examination for federal civil servants.
The report generated widespread uproar across the country at the time, with many calling for the removal of the director from his post.
The Goodluck Jonathan administration, reputed for massive corruption and serial abuse of due process, however failed to act at the time, and Mr. Aduda was allowed to stay on.
Three years on, the Muhammadu Buhari administration has elevated the controversial official to the position of permanent secretary.
Mr. Aduda is among the 21 new permanent secretaries appointed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on August 10. He is also among the 15 inaugurated on Wednesday.
He was deployed to the Political Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Laolu Akande, the spokesperson to Mr. Osinbajo, could not be reached to comment for this story Thursday morning. He did not answer or return multiples calls made to him.
But an official in the acting president’s office, who requested not to be named because he is not an official spokesperson, said Mr. Osinbajo was never made aware of Mr. Aduda’s antecedent.
“I am sure Mr. Osinbajo would be shocked to hear this,” he said.
