Buhari Reconstitutes NBET Board, Retains Amobi as MD/CEO

By Dipo Olowookere

The board of the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company Plc (NBET) has been reconstituted after the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari.

This development was confirmed in a statement issued by Mr Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed.

The statement said Mr Buhari approved the appointment of Mrs Ahmed as Chairman of the board, while Mrs Marilyn Amobi is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the agency.

Also appointed were Mr Alexander Ayoola Okoh as non-executive director from Bureau of Public Enterprises, which controls 80 percent shareholding in NBET.

In addition, Ms Patience Oniha, the Director-General of the Debt Management Office, is on the board as non-executive director; while Mr Ben Akabueze, the Director-General of Budget Office of the Federation, is also a non-executive director.

Furthermore, Mr Suleyman Ndanusa, former Director-General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was appointed as a non-executive director (Independent); Mr Mustapha Balarabe Shehu, the former President Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), joined the board as non-executive director (Independent), while Mr Adeyeye Adepegba was picked as a non-executive director (Independent).

It was further stated that the board will have a non-executive director from Ministry of Power, to be represented by a staff not below the level of a director.

Business Post recalls that in December 2019, Mrs Anobi, who was retained as MD/CEO of NBET, was suspended by the Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman, who asked her to vacate the position with immediate effect and hand over to the most senior director in the organisation.

Mrs Anobi was accused of corruption, resulting in the House of Representatives instituting a probe into her activities.

Also, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) indicted her for alleged violation of the Public Procurement Act.

However, in January 2020, President Buhari reversed her suspension from office.