30thof March 2005. This Letter is a Query from the Ministry of Finance Headquarters written on the behalf of the Permanent Secretary by Mr. Jonah Mamman, the Secretary to the Ministry to Mallam Mohammadu Juli, Chief Stores Officer. Of particular interest is Page 2 of the Exhibit, wherein the Chief Stores Officer in charge of the Central Stores, in answer to the Query wrote thus: “PERMANENT SECRETARY I as the Chief Stores Officer of this Ministry under whom Central Stores Division is, have a Duty to enlighten you on anything that affects the Division in particular and this Ministry generally. You may not be aware perhaps, that I am aware that you have written a Memo to Government House for the Purchase of Office Equipment and Stationeries worth N250Million. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT MEMO SHOULD HAVE EMANATED FROM MY OFFICE THOUGH YOU MADE IT A POINT THAT I SHOULD BE SIDE LINED. I am also aware that H.E. has approved the Memo. From this abridged Excerpt of Page 2, which is plagued with many forgivable grammatical errors and mistakes, it explained the necessity for proper vetting by his Superiors before it was presented to His Excellency. The Court finds these errors pardonable, as what is crucial is the message the Response tends to convey, which is that Mallam Mohammadu Juli, the Chief Stores Officer, should be the Root Source of the Memo for the Bulk Purchase Stationeries and Office Equipment, but he was sidelined. According to Mrs. Asabe Maiangwa, he, as Chief Stores Officer was also solely responsible for generating the Cost Implications for this Purchase of Stationeries and Office Equipment. The Question must therefore be asked, WHY was he sidelined? 85