Open Letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR
Formal Act Legacy Limited
No. 18 Sambo Road, Kaduna State.
Zip Code 800001
Email: [formalactlegacy@gmail.com](mailto:formalactlegacy@gmail.com)
Tel: +234711111495
*The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,*
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR,
Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria.
*CC to: The President of the Senate, National Assembly of Nigeria, the Chief of Staff to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice**
*Dear Mr. President,*
*Re: Urgent Attention Required – EFCC, Kaduna State Government’s Interference in Grant-Funded Community Development Initiative*
We write to bring to your attention a pressing matter that urgently requires your direct intervention.
1. The United Charity Foundation (UCF-FICOD), a donor organisation, has been implementing a grant-funded community development initiative in Nigeria through its local partner, **Formal Act Legacy Limited*, with a focus on providing essential infrastructure, water, healthcare, and educational support across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria, starting with 22 LGAs in Kaduna State.
2. Sir, it is worthy of note that the above-named organisation played a significant role in the success of the *All Progressives Congress (APC)* during the 2023 general elections both in Kaduna State and at the national level, contributing immensely to the victory of the party.
3. However, the project’s smooth progress has been derailed by the interference of some Kaduna State government officials and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC claimed to be investigating a case involving *₦30 billion*, an amount nearly three times higher than the total project fund.
4. I, the CEO of Formal Act Legacy, Dr. Bashir Ibrahim Bello, has persistently expressed deep concern that the *Kaduna State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs*, *Sadiq Mamman Lagos*, has continued to truncate all our efforts towards achieving the project’s objective. When we were struggling to solicit funds alongside local government chairmen, there was no disagreement between us and the state government, only when the funds were secured.
5. After funds were finally secured for disbursement, Formal Act Legacy directed each local government to open a **joint account** for project payments, with the organisation serving as one of the signatories to ensure transparency.
6. Suddenly, the Kaduna State Government jumped in and instructed that all payments should instead be routed through a state-controlled account, claiming that both the state and Formal Act Legacy would jointly handle contractor payments. An MoU was signed to this effect, and a joint account was opened accordingly.
7. After sending the account details to our international donors, they discovered that **Formal Act Legacy was not included as a signatory** to the account. Only the Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries of the *Ministries of Local Government Affairs* and *Planning and Budget Commission* were signatories, while the mandate of Formal Act Legacy was never taken to the bank.
8. This development prompted the donors to halt all disbursements, citing a lack of transparency and risk of fund mismanagement. We wrote repeated letters, more than seven to the state government to correct the anomaly, but there was no response.
9. We, Formal Act Legacy, therefore appealed to the donors for an alternative arrangement; they invited us to a board meeting.
10. Shortly after the invitation, one of the Kaduna State commissioners conspired with some contractors to petition the **Inspector General of Police (IGP)**, leading to my invitation and subsequent freezing of the project’s operational account. The matter lingered in court for 11 months before the account was reopened following intervention by the **Brekete Family Radio**.
11. When payment to contractors resumed, the Kaduna State Government involved the **EFCC**, based on another petition by the same group of contractors known as the “G-9 Group,” who were created by them. While these individuals were released after questioning, I was detained for **71 days**, and our properties—along with donor assets—were seized and marked.
12. All project funds remain intact, but payments to contractors have been stalled by state interference. Over **₦800 million** in mobilisation fees has already been paid to more than **250 contractors**, many of whom have completed their work, yet the government has not acted to ensure their payment.
13. Formal Act Legacy borrowed **four Hilux vehicles, four ambulances, and 66 motorcycles** to Governor Uba Sani’s administration to mark his first 100 days in office.
* We were deceived by the *Commissioner of Local Government Affairs*, Sadiq Mamman Lagos, that we should bring the vehicles for display to mark Gov. Uba Sani’s 100 days in office, that if they were done they would return the vehicles back to us, which they never did.
* They went ahead to retrieve three buses we gave to Local Government and took it to EFCC that they were the buses that they returned to us, when actually they were not.
* Out of the 66 motorcycles they collected, they returned no fewer than 40 to the EFCC so they could treat them the way they wished.
* We are disappointed that in spite of earlier briefings, the governor has since stopped granting audience to the organisation.
14. Every LGA in Kaduna State had benefited from at least **70 to 80 boreholes**, in addition to hospital renovations and other rural interventions, all of which have been halted due to government inaction.
15. The state government’s behaviour amounts to sabotaging the donor programme and the **Renewed Hope Agenda** of your administration, which is focused on grassroots development and accountability.
16. Even after Governor Uba Sani saw the achievements of Formal Act Legacy during **CUPP29 in Dubai**, where I was appointed as African Sub Regional Coordinator of the organisation, Kaduna State’s partnerships were showcased, the organisation was deliberately shielded from further discussions and recognition in Kaduna State.
17. Many contractors who initially filed petitions have since realised they were misled and have withdrawn their complaints from the EFCC. Yet, the Kaduna State officials continue to frustrate payment processes through various means.
18. Sir, we respectfully state that the EFCC’s conduct in this matter has been **unlawful and prejudicial**. Raids on our offices, seizure of project assets, and harassment of staff have disrupted a donor-funded programme meant to improve lives in rural communities.
19. Instead of inviting all parties involved for proper mediation, the EFCC and state officials have conspired to sideline Formal Act Legacy, thereby endangering Nigeria’s international development credibility and delaying vital projects across the country.
20. The donors have now opened a **Project Funds Reservation Wallet (PFRW)** to ensure transparency, but even this has been hindered by travel restrictions engineered by the same state officials to prevent me from attending crucial board meetings abroad.
21. It is essential to highlight that in each Local Government Area where the intervention was implemented, not fewer than **100 solar-powered boreholes** were drilled, along with numerous hand pumps and Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) renovated and equipped with ambulances and medical supplies.
22. Sadly, many of these materials—including school furniture, drugs, and hospital equipment—remain sealed or confiscated due to EFCC actions and the interference of Kaduna State officials, the *Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Sadiq Mamman Lagos* to be precise.
23. Sir, this situation represents not only an assault on donor trust but also a setback to your administration’s grassroots development agenda. The continued sabotage of this programme threatens to discourage other international donors from investing in Nigeria.
Our Humble Requests
. We, appeal for your urgent intervention to address this situation and ensure that the project’s progress is not further hindered. Specifically, we request that you:
. Direct the relevant authorities to meet up with the necessary conditions for the release of funds to pay contractors for work done and ensure that future payments are made in a timely manner.
. Ensure that the relevant authorities take necessary steps to protect the interests of UCF-FICOD and the credibility of Nigeria in the global development community.
. Provide support and protection to Formal Act Legacy and its staff, who are working tirelessly to deliver essential services to the communities.
. Consider establishing a special task force to oversee the implementation of the project and ensure that it is completed successfully.
. Order an investigation into the actions of the EFCC and government officials in Kaduna State that have hindered the project’s progress for their selfish interest and take necessary disciplinary action.
We believe that your administration is committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance.
We also urge you to use your office to ensure that the rights of UCF-FICOD and its beneficiaries are protected and that justice is served in this matter.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt response.
Signed
Dr. Bashir Ibrahim Bello
MD/CEO, Formal Act Legacy Ltd and African Sub Regional Coordinator, United Charity Foundation (UCF) FICOD