| Fighting in the Gallery |
 By TAJUDEEN SULEIMAN
These days it is not unusual to see headquarter staff of the National Gallery of Arts discussing in small groups within the premises and offices of the agency. The conversation usually revolves around the removal and prosecution of Joe Musa, former director general, DG and some top directors of the agency.
Things have fallen apart in the agency since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, began the investigation of corruption charges and eventually commenced the prosecution of Musa and three directors of the agency in July 2009. The others are Olusegun Ogunba, director of finance, Kweku Tandoh, director, research and education and Elizabeth Oparagu, deputy director of administration.
Musa and the others were all arraigned on July 20, 2009 on a 12-count charge before an Abuja high court for criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of funds of the gallery and breach of financial regulations. They were accused of diverting over N1.2 billion government’s funds into private pockets between August 1, 2006 and April 2009. Although they all pleaded not guilty and were granted bail by Justice O. Adeniyi, their travail, it appears, is just starting.
Shortly after the arraignment, Bello Gada, the minister of tourism, culture and national orientation, issued a query to Musa and the others, restating the court charges and asking them to explain their involvement. Musa, irked by the minister’s action, filed a suit challenging the query. He argued that the disciplinary proceedings against him by the ministry were based upon the existing charges before the court.
Musa’s action was interpreted as insubordination, and he was asked to hand over his office to the next most senior staff of the agency. Musa stuck to his guns and refused to hand over since he allegedly got court orders for a stay of action by the minister. But Gada ignored all the court orders and directed Abdullahi Muku, the most senior director, to take over as acting DG. Musa was later to write the inspector general of police, IGP complaining that some people broke into and took over his office.
But the IGP, in his reply dated September 24, 2009, advised Musa to “re-direct” his petition to the office of the secretary to the government of the federation and the head of service of the federation for “appropriate action.” That was the end of the story and since then Muku has continued to act as the DG of the agency. Other directors have also been appointed to take over from Ogunba, Tandoh and Oparagu.
But Musa has vowed he would not be cowed into submission by people he called his “persecutors.” He told the magazine, last week, that he was being persecuted by people whose motive is to rubbish his career and prevent him from seeking a second term as director general of the agency.
The minister is not spared in Musa’s theory of conspiracy to rubbish him and “usurp” his seat. He said the minister acted too hastily by suspending him and the others from office based on allegations levelled against him by the EFCC when the court was yet to pronounce him guilty.
The EFCC has, however, dismissed Musa’s allegations as a tissue of lies. Femi Babafemi, EFCC spokesman said last week that the anti-graft agency would not file charges against anybody in court if the person had not been investigated. He said it is the report of the investigation that the agency’s lawyers would use to file charges. “There is no way we would not investigate a matter and charge it to court because it is the report of investigation that the lawyer uses to draft charges filed in court”.
When he was appointed DG of the gallery in August 2006 by then President Olusegun Obasanjo, many saw it as an attempt by the government to revamp the visual art sub-sector and position the gallery to provide a world-class platform for Nigerian art. A first class honours degree holder in painting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Musa is also a core visual artist of international repute with over 16 solo exhibitions at home and abroad. He was the first core artist to be appointed as DG of the gallery.
Musa: Alleges persecution
Gada: Moves against Musa
|
|
| [Print Article] [Send to a friend] [Post Comment] View All (0)Comment(s) |