The Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA) has addressed recent reports surrounding the disappearance of a tractor, dismissing allegations and clarifying the events that led to the incident. Dr. Jackson, the pioneer Director overseeing Finance and Administration who also doubles as the spokesperson for the Authority, emphasized that the management’s decision to handle the matter through legal channels rather than the media has been misconstrued, resulting in a misleading narrative.
“We opted to take the case to court because we believed that was the proper course of action,” Dr. Jackson stated. “There was no need to address the press prematurely, but unfortunately, this has given rise to a skewed report that does not reflect the true situation. The narrative presented not only paints the management in a negative light but also buries the actual facts.”
The controversy began when Mr. Mission Daniel, a tractor operator with the Authority, arrived at the premises with a letter claiming to authorize the movement of the tractor for an audit inspection. The letter, allegedly signed by Mr. Umana, the Commercial Officer and Personal Assistant to the Managing Director, was presented to Mr. Ikon, the Chief Security Officer. However, doubts about the letter’s authenticity led to a decision to delay the movement until further verification.
Despite this, the tractor was later found to have been removed without proper authorization. Mr. Mission, when questioned, denied knowledge of its whereabouts. Further investigation revealed that Mr. Umana, who was cited as the signatory of the letter, was not in town at the time, casting doubt on Mr. Mission’s claims. The case was subsequently handed over to the police.
Further investigation by our reporter from another source who does not want his name in print reveals that, Mr. Mission convinced the Chief Security and finally moved the tractor out. And since the acclaimed letter of authorisation was not with an acknowledgement copy, he promised to photocopy same to submit to the security unit. However, upon his return, and when confronted, he told a different tale leaving the chief security confused and blank.
In an attempt to deflect attention, Mr. Mission later alleged that the tractor might have been taken to the Managing Director’s farm in Akpabuyo, citing the discovery of a similar tractor bucket. However, CRBDA management has refuted this claim, labelling it as part of a deliberate effort to mislead and divert from the actual issue of unauthorized removal.
Attempts by our reporter to get further clarification from Mr. Mission were unsuccessful, as he declined comments, citing the ongoing legal proceedings. “Don’t waste your airtime; management has taken this matter to court, and I have no further comments,” he said. Later, he directed our reporter to contact his lawyer, Barr. Ayie E. Okpa, but all calls to the lawyer remained unanswered at the time of this report.
An internal review has revealed a significant administrative loophole, with no existing system for operators to sign out and sign in machinery, leaving the Authority vulnerable to such incidents. Additionally, a staff member who spoke under anonymity expressed concerns, stating, “The agency has always operated like a family, and this freedom has now been exploited, leading to a crime of this magnitude. I fear for the outcome, considering the scale of this theft.”
CRBDA management has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and has promised to address any internal shortcomings to prevent future incidents. “We will not allow false claims to distort the truth. Legal processes are ongoing, and we are determined to ensure that the facts come to light,” Dr. Jackson added.
