Facts have emerged of how the embattled General Manager of National Theatre, Prof Sunny Ododo allegedly mismanaged and looted funds of the parastatal.

A group comprising of staff of the parastatal, The Concerned Stakeholders of the National Theatre alleged that Professor Ododo and his cohorts have been on looting spree of assets of the parastatal since the beginning of the rehabilitation work embark upon by the Bankers’ Committee.

According to an audit report by the office of the Auditor General for the Federation and made available by the Concerned Stakeholders of the National Theatre, the group alleged that Ododo flouted the BPP Act and Financial Regulation and awarded contracts and made payment of the sum of N300million to contractors without recourse to due process.

The audit report, signed by the Director, Extra-Ministerial Audit Department, Dr Onwudili .A.O also indicted Ododo led management of corruption charges and embezzlement of fund assets of the historic monument.

In a series of petitions written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), it also alleged Professor Ododo, the Technical Director, Abiodun Abe and a junior ranking officer, Ephesian Nodza of embezzling the sum of N856million.

It however called for the removal of Prof Ododo and the resignation of Minister Mohammed for foot-dragging, aiding and failing to implement the Auditor-General’s report which indicted the embattled General Manager to pave the way for thorough investigation of the allegations.

In the petition dated June 15th of June 2022, the group alleged that Professor Ododo conceded the sales of valuable assets of the parastatal including 200kva generator, 1500 metres steel pipes of 8inch thickness and looting of the central workshop to the tune of N750million.

The petition read in part, “We, the Concerned Stakeholders of National Theatre, urged the ICPC to conduct an unbiased investigation into the allegations of embezzlement and misappropriation of funds levelled against Prof Ododo.

As contained in the report and recommendations by the office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, Professor Ododo made payment of N300, 000, 000.00 to contractors without following due process and the vouchers not stamped “Paid”.”

It was observed that advances amounting to N44million were granted to different members of Staff of the parastatal for execution of various services and purchases but were not retired.

Audit review of procurement documents, payment vouchers and other records of the Agency show that, contracts amounting over N27million was awarded to various contractors without evidence to show that due process were followed in the award of the contracts.

This, the document declared violates BPP Act and Financial Regulation.

“We, the Concerned Stakeholders, therefore recommend the removal and investigation of the General Manager of National Theatre, Prof Sunny Ododo to pave the way for proper investigation.”


Also speaking to the allegations, a member of the group said, “In 2008, the former General Manager of National Theatre, Mallam Kabir Yusuf was suspended for not cooperating with the management board but he was reinstated after he was investigated and found not guilty.

But this was not the case with the current General Manager, Professor Sunny Ododo. Despite all the allegations of corruption and misappropriation of the funds of the parastatal against him, he has refused to resign to allow for proper investigation.

The office of the Auditor-General has found him guilty of corruption charges and embezzlement of funds but the Minister has refused to implement the recommendations.

Also the Board of the parastatal, in a separate investigation, indicted Professor Ododo and recommended him for suspension but this was not implemented.

Whereas when the Auditor-General was found wanting in cases of corruption, he was hurriedly removed. Why is the Ministry feigning ignorance about happenings in the National Theatre?

We are aware that the GM is currently being investigated by the ICPC but he is the still in office while being under investigation.

Through a letter dated 5th of April, 2022 and signed by the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Kabiru Elelu, the ICPC invited Prof Ododo to its Lagos office requesting for some documents that could aid its investigation but upon his return, Ododo was boasting that ICPC told him that the corruption charges levelled against him are mere administrative errors.

Despite this, our hope in the anti-graft agency doing the needful is very much intact.

Therefore we urge the ICPC and the EFCC to step up their efforts in investigating all the allegations levelled against Prof Sunny Ododo and other members of his management team and bring erring officers to justice.

We are also calling on the Federal Government to implement the Auditor-General reports which seems to have been set aside for a long time.”