The leadership of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has noted with serious concern the recent, highly inflammatory, and unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and criminal misappropriation of public funds leveled by an unregistered Group identifying itself as “Concerned Citizens of the FCT.”
The Executive Chairman of AMAC, Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, vehemently rejects the report’s central claims, which are not only false but are based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the current revenue collection structure within the FCT.
In a statement by Kingsley Madaki, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to the Executive Chairman AMAC, tittled” Setting the Record Straight and Addressing Counterclaims”:
“We wish to address the principal falsehoods in the report and the specific claims made by the unregistered group”
The alleged N3 Billion Naira revenue fraud is not only baseless but is also unrealistic for the Signpost Revenue Unit of AMAC. These hyperbolic figures are designed only to mislead the public.
The faceless Group incorrectly attempts to legalize the FCT Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS) as the sole legal MDA to regulate Signpost Outdoor Advert in FCT.
This is in direct contrast to the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which vests Area Councils with the right to certain levies.
The direct accusations against the AMAC Chairman regarding Signpost Revenue is a mere political campaign against a performing Chairman or a clear attempt at intimidation designed to force the Chairman to empower DOAS’s illegal operations.
It is crucial to note that there are Court Judgments that legally stop the AMAC Chairman from recognizing DOAS or signing any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DOAS.
”We strongly suspect that this Group is being bankrolled by the illegal agents of DOAS and certain key officials of DOAS who own the majority of billboards in the FCT.
“This is reportedly led by Engr. Tunde Babadiya, a staff of DOAS who also owns MEDIA OUTCOME Ltd, and Mr. Ebere Nwaokocha of SENCE MEGA Company Ltd.
“We have concluded arrangements to send all relevant publications and details to Security Agencies to ascertain the true motives of this Group and its sponsors, and to serve as a deterrent to others attempting to distract the Council”.
The AMAC Administration under Hon. Christopher Maikalangu is committed to transparency and the effective management of all public funds for community development.
“We urge the public and media outlets to treat these sensational allegations with the skepticism they deserve”.
