Secret Reporters No place to hide
Secrets Reporters
Investigation has revealed that Tejumade Omowumi Siyanbola, an Associate Professor of Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has flagrantly violated Nigeria’s constitutional and ethical codes for public office holders.
Siyanbola, a lecturer at a government-funded institution, has been accused of running Swoot Technology Solutions Limited, a private company she co-owns with her husband, Willie Owolabi Siyanbola. Documents uncovered from the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO) show that the company has secured several high-value contracts from government agencies, raising serious concerns about abuse of office, conflict of interest, and ethical misconduct.
Section 172 of Nigeria’s Constitution requires public officers to adhere to the Code of Conduct by avoiding conflicts between their private interests and public duties. Furthermore, Section 2(a) of the Fifth Schedule explicitly bars public officers from engaging in or managing private businesses. These provisions aim to ensure transparency and accountability, principles blatantly disregarded by Siyanbola.
The Public Procurement Act of 2007, which mandates that contracts be awarded based on professional qualifications, technical expertise, and merit, also appears to have been sidestepped in favor of influence and political connections.
Registered on June 26, 2007, with a paid share capital of ₦1,000,000, Swoot Technology Solutions Limited lists JIC Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife, Osun State, as its legal address. Siyanbola and her husband are both listed as directors, despite her position as a senior lecturer in a federal university, an act directly violating constitutional provisions.
The company’s portfolio includes the following government contracts:
- ₦19,000,000 for facilitating the review of Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency’s strategic plan (2022).
- ₦10,128,289.25 from the Nigeria Institute for Science Laboratory Technology (2018).
- ₦5,364,000.00 for the production of reports on Intellectual Property Technology Transfer Offices, under the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (2019).
- ₦11,134,883.72 for strategic plan coordination and development for the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (2022).
In total, the company has received ₦45,527,173.97 from various government agencies, a glaring contradiction to ethical governance standards.
One particularly alarming transaction is a ₦19,000,000 contract awarded in 2022 by the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency for reviewing its strategic plans and action development. Official records show that Swoot Technology Solutions Limited was the sole bidder, raising red flags about transparency in the procurement process.
The contract was awarded under National Competitive Bidding, yet Swoot’s eligibility remains questionable, as it lacks the necessary qualifications, infrastructure, and technical expertise outlined in the Public Procurement Act.
Siyanbola’s failure to declare her private business interests and assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau further compounds her violations. As a public officer, she is mandated to submit detailed declarations upon assuming office and every four years thereafter. Evidence suggests she may have used her academic position and political influence to secure these contracts, undermining merit-based systems.
The involvement of a senior academic figure in such brazen violations shakes the trust in public institutions and raises questions about oversight at federal universities.
