Panic Grips Prof. David Francis …As ACC Opens Investigation On USL US$4.5 M Deal
Just after the Africa Confidential uncovered the bad deal between the University of Sierra Leone and the Femab Properties which is a Nigerian Company for the construction of a Business School for the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), there have been series of publications trying to defend former Chief Minister Prof. David Francis of any wrong doing.
Based on the agreement between USL and Femab, USL made an advance payment of US$4.5 million to the Nigerian property developer for the project of $50 million for which nothing was built.
Despite newspaper publications writing to set the former Chief Minister free of error, he (Prof. Francis) was a key player leading to the signing of the bad deal at State House in August 2018.
According to Africa Confidential, Prof. David Francis responded to most of their questions when they were looking into the deal which is now moribund.
“Francis replied to most of our questions, telling us about the wide range of educational investments, of which Bureh Town was a small part, that he was proud to support as part of President Maada Bio’s programme to massively improve education after his election in April 2018,” Africa Confidential stated.
That he (Prof. Francis) stated that the lead on the project, was the Tertiary and Higher Education Department, which presented the plans for approval to government.
However, in his response to Africa Confidential dated 5th August 2024, Prof. Francis said that in the specific case of the Ministry of Technical & Higher Education (MoTHE), he ‘supported and championed’ two projects which included the IPAM-FEMAB Students’ Hostels project and the creation of THREE new Universities.
“My support role was always provided under the leadership and direction of the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, as the substantive Minister appointed by the President to provide political leadership of the Ministry,” Prof. David Francis stated.
Right thinking Sierra Leoneans are now asking as to why is Prof. Francis is in a hurry to save himself from the grand mismanagement when he was actively involved?
