20 candidates jostle to replace sacked Accountant-General of Federation

. Seek support of Presidency officials, state Govs to clinch plum job
…as FG shortlists top civil servants from different MDAs for position
. Prospective candidates, screened, cleared by ICPC, EFCC
. Accreditation of shortlisted persons commences today, ends Wednesday

The race for the replacement of the sacked Accountant-General of the Federation, has begun in earnest.

Several top civil servants across the MDAs had indicated interested and applied for the plum job.

But due to the sensitivity of the job and the nation’s recent experience with the last holder of the office, the Federal Government decided to involve the anti-graft agencies in the process of screening and scaling down the number of prospective candidates for the top job.

Following the reports of the anti-graft agencies, the Federal Government eventually shortlisted 20 candidates out of the lot.

These 20 prospective candidates are, therefore, to slug it out amongst themselves to see who eventually takes the office of the substantive AGF.

A circular sighted by our correspondent indicated that the 20 candidates were drawn from different Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Recall that in May, 2022, the former AGF, Ahmed Idris, was arrested in Kano following his alleged refusal to honour prior invitations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to explain his role in an alleged N109billion fraud.

Two days after the former AGF’s arrest by the EFCC, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, suspended him indefinitely and “without pay.”

Idris’ successor in acting capacity, Chukwunyere Anamekwe, was also soon removed from office in controversial circumstances.

But in the current circular, Federal Government, said that the shortlisting of the 20 prospective candidates followed reports of the anti-corruption agencies on the screening of those who applied to take part in the process for the appointment of a substantive AGF for the country.

It further stated that the accreditation process for the shortlisted candidates would commence today, Monday, January 9, 2023.

The circular stated, “Consequently, the shortlisted candidates are to come for the accreditation exercise scheduled to take place from Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th January, 2023 at Olusegun Obasanjo Hall, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Federal Secretariat, Phase lI, Abuja between 8.00 am and 4:00pm each day. ”

It was, however, learnt that many of the shortlisted candidates are already pulling the strings to ensure their selection for the top position.

They were said to have intensified efforts to enlist the support of top Presidency officials to influence their selection.

Many others are said to have been reaching out to the governors of their respective states, especially those from the states controlled by the ruling All Progressives Congress, to put in favourable words for them with the final selection body.

Below is the full list of the 20 shortlisted prospective candidates for the office of the AGF:

Mufutau Bukola (Transportation)

Mohammed Aminu Yara’abba (Federal Fire Service)

Danladi Zakowi Comfort (Interior)

Mahmud Adam Kambari (North East Dev. Comm)

Mohammed Magaji. M. Doho (Interior)

Waziri Amos Samuel (Agric and Rural Development)

Madein Oluwatoyin Sakirat (OHCSF)

Adaramoye Joseph Oluwole (Humanitarian Affairs)

Isa Abubakar (Science, Tech & Innovation)

Ogunsemowo Oladipupo Olakunle (Environment)

Egbokale Kadiri Charity (Nig. Football Federation)