The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has debunked media reports alleging its Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Charles Anosike, is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a multibillion-naira contract fraud.
The management of NiMet clarified that the EFCC only made a routine document request EFCC related to contracts awarded at the agency dating as far back as 2021—long before Professor Anosike was appointed to lead the organisation. The agency emphasized that this request is part of normal EFCC procedures, not a targeted probe against its current leadership.
According to a statement issued by General Manager, Public Relations, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Muntari Yusuf Ibrahim, the EFCC, in its statutory role, frequently requests documents from federal government institutions to support investigations into financial crimes such as fraud, money laundering, and cybercrime.
He explained that NiMet, like other agencies, is cooperating fully with the anti-graft commission by providing the requested documents. The statement also clarified that no member of NiMet’s current management team has been invited, interrogated, or indicted in connection with the matter.
Professor Charles Anosike, the current Director General and Chief Executive Officer, was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in December 2023. Therefore, he had no involvement in the contract processes under review.
The agency’s management expressed concern over the tone and framing of the media reports. It noted that the articles suggested misconduct on the part of Professor Anosike, which is both misleading and baseless. This type of sensational reporting, the agency noted, mirrors a pattern seen in a previous fake news story claiming that agency-based unions had petitioned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, demanding Anosike’s removal—a claim that has since been debunked.
NiMet maintained that no such request was ever made by any internal union or staff group within the agency, stressing that this latest media spin may be the continuation of a vendetta against its leadership.
The agency reaffirmed that it remains transparent and committed to good governance. Its management made this clarification to provide accurate public records and reassure stakeholders within and outside the aviation and climate monitoring sectors.
Transitioning into a more transparent era, NiMet urges journalists and media houses to engage in responsible reporting. The agency also called on the public to disregard misleading headlines and rely on verified information from official channels.
By addressing the matter directly and factually, NiMet has reiterated its stand that the routine document request EFCC should not be misrepresented as a corruption case involving the current administration of the agency.
