By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Sierra Leone has indicted Abdul Razak Kabba, a Senior Information Technology officer at the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, for corruption offenses related to procurement.
The indictment was announced by the commission on Wednesday in a press statement which indicates that the accused faces 16 counts charges, including conflict of interest and abuse of office.
According to the ACC, between May, 2017 and November, 2018, Abdul Razak Kabba, in his capacity as Senior Information Technology Officer at the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, failed to disclose in writing a direct and personal interest in a company which did a business with the Board.
The company called JPS Electronics of No. 2 Upper Brook Street, Freetown was wholly owned by the accused when he contracted it for several procurement related activities, including the procurement of electronic items, the networking of the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone Head Office in Freetown, the procurement of two designing software for the registration and information department, as well as the repairs of existing electronics equipment in the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone Bo office.
Kabba is also accused of participating in procurement decisions to award contracts to his business, thereby conferring an advantage to himself.
The accused will be arraigned at the High Court on Thursday, 23rd of April, according to the ACC.
Corruption is rampant in procurement processes in Sierra Leone, despite efforts by successive governments to tighten the knots.
ACC says procurement accounts for 60% of government’s annual expenditure.
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