West Power & Gas Limited (WPG), the parent firm of Eko Electricity Distribution firm (EKEDC), has fired Tinuade Sanda, the former managing director and chief executive officer of the company.
The dismissal, which takes effect right away on April 17, 2024, is in response to recent scandals involving claims of academic credential fabrication and corruption. Sanda was the third woman to head a significant energy distribution business in Nigeria, having taken the leadership of EKEDC since March 2022.
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Her employment was terminated subsequent to an internal probe ordered by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) that resulted in the suspension of all WPG employees who were seconded to the utility by EKEDC. This mandate was a component of larger initiatives to guarantee that all utility employees were directly hired by and answerable to EKEDC.
Charles Momoh, chairman of WPG, wrote in a letter, “Your services are no longer required,” emphasizing compliance with the contract’s termination clause. The company has also ensured that Sanda receives three months’ salary in lieu of notice.
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Academic Qualifications in Question
Further complicating Sanda’s position are revelations about her purported academic achievements. Investigations have revealed that Sanda falsely claimed degrees from prestigious institutions like Harvard Business School and the University of Edinburgh. According to verification by TheCable, Sanda attended only a short executive education course at Harvard, contrary to her claims of a full academic degree. Similarly, the University of Edinburgh confirmed that Sanda was not an alumna, leading to further scrutiny of her educational background.
Most troubling is the discovery surrounding her claimed PhD from the non-existent University of Management Science and Technology in the Benin Republic. Investigations indicated that the university was unaccredited and had no online presence except for an Instagram account.
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Implications for EKEDP and WPG
The scandal has cast a shadow over EKEDP’s management and operations, prompting an urgent review of internal controls and employment protocols. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has stressed the need for transparency and direct employment practices to avoid similar incidents in the future.
As the power sector grapples with these revelations, stakeholders and customers of EKEDP are calling for stringent oversight and integrity in leadership positions to safeguard consumers’ interests and ensure reliable service delivery
