The Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFUND) Sonny Echono, was detained and intensely grilled for two days ( Friday and Saturday) by the crack team of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission( ICPC) investigators.
He was held over diversion of public funds and abuse of due processing to the sum of N7 billion.
An impeccable source from Anti-corruption body, who confirmed the update to the Sunday Telegraph, said the former Permanent Secretary was in ICPC’s custody from Saturday morning till Saturday evening ( yesterday) and was only granted administrative bail through a permanent secretary in one of the ministries.
“Yes, I confirm that the embattled TETFUND’s ES was with the Commission from Friday morning till this evening.
He was granted administrative bail through a Permanent Secretary in one of the ministries “, confirmed the source.
The embattled TETFUND boss had been facing alleged corruption charges and had been detained at ICPC for questioning before now.
Under his watch, TETfund allegedly awarded two contracts to Fides Et Ratio Academy and Pole Global Marketing within two months at the cost of N3.8 billion respectively, without the approval of the Federal Executive Council, which is required for the contract size.
The contract was to provide capacity-building courses and learning management systems to about 2 million students across higher institutions in the country.
In a rejoinder, TETFund said it did not award N7.6 billion contracts to two companies without due process.
Contacted, the Spokesman for TETFUND, Abdul Onyiangi, said Echono was not detained.
” The story is not true. He was in the office on Friday”, he said.
