NBA Not Paying Corp Member N2 million, We Deal Only With PwC– NBA President, Paul Usoro, SAN

The President of Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Paul Usoro, SAN, has refuted claims by an online publication that his administration is paying a National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) member a hefty sum of N2 million every three months.

Rather, the NBA president stated that the said corp member was part of three man account auditing team seconded to the body by Pricewaterhouse Cooper,( PwC), for which the money involved is nowhere near what the online publication is bandying. TheNigerianlawyer(tnl) is also in possession of what appears to be an official correspondence from PwC backing Usoro’s claim on the matter.

According to the publication, an inside source in the NBA revealed that Usoro, SAN, led NBA employed a youth Corp member, Abayomi Ogunola and paid him N2m every 3 months while other Youth Corp members in NBA are paid N50,000 monthly. The online news portal further claimed that the corp member was presented to the NBA as a staff of PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PwC) to audit the accounts of the NBA and has in fact been the one overseeing the “Audited Account” of the Association presented to members.

But refuting these claims, the NBA national president said that PwC seconded, Abayomi Ogunlana to NBA. “He is a Chartered Accountant. He’s PwC’s contract staff who was also doing his NYSC, during this period. He’s supervised on a daily basis by two senior personnel of PwC, both Chartered Accountants.

” In effect, we pay N350k per Quarter for three PwC Chartered Accountants who are managing our books. Can’t be any cheaper. The two other Chartered Accountants are Oghenefego Adaja, Abayomi’s immediate supervisor and Gabriel Sosanya who oversees both ‘Fego & Abayomi,” the president said.

The NBA president further added that no money is paid directly to the corps member.

“Our payments are to PwC for their services. Services that no one has complained.

“Services that have brought sanity to our resources’ management. Services that have sanitized NBA generally,” he said.

He also added that the publication is another smear campaign on his person.

TheNigerianlawyer(TNL) is also in possession of official correspondence from PwC purporting a staff secondment arrangement between it and NBA. The official missive dated 14 January 2019 and addressed to Usoro outlined details of a ‘finance staff function secondment’.

According to the document, the NBA and PwC agreed to some arrangement where PwC provides support to the finance unit of the NBA. “This service provides you with a dedicated PwC Finance an Accounting staff stationed at your premises to effectively manage financial information, general accounting, transaction processing and financial reporting within your organization. The team will consistently provide feedback to management on adjustments and Finance improvement areas to support your progress towards achieving strategic goals,” the document stated.

Below read letter Addendum: Finance function staff secondment 

14 January 2019
Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) NBA House, Plot 1101 Mohammadu Buhari Way CBD, Abuja FCT Nigeria
Attention: Mr Paul Usoro

Dear Sir,

Addendum: Finance function staff secondment Further to the Master Engagement Letter dated 04 October 2018 between PricewaterhouseCoopers Chartered Accountants (“PwC”, “we” or “us”) and Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”, “you”, “your”), this letter sets out the extension to the consultancy services that PwC is currently engaged to deliver to the NBA. The NBA and PwC hereby agree as follows in respect of the above subject and this letter summarises the scope of our services as requested by you in connection with the secondment of an accountant to provide support to the finance unit of the NBA. Objective This service provides you with a dedicated PwC Finance & Accounting staff stationed at your premises to effectively manage financial information, general accounting, transaction processing and financial reporting within your organization. The team will consistently provide feedback to management on adjustments and Finance improvement areas to support your progress towards achieving strategic goals.

Project Scope, Deliverables and Timelines

The project scope, deliverables and timelines relating to the provision of outsourced accounting services are as detailed in the Appendix 1, and will be executed to achieve your objective.

Fees and Billing

The fee and billing schedule for the scope of services will be as stated in Appendix 2. The payment terms will however remain as stated in the Master Engagement Letter dated 04 October 2018.
Confirmation

This addendum only agrees the scope, deliverables, timelines and fees in respect of the specific services to be rendered. The responsibilities of each party and other terms are contained in the Master Engagement Letter referred to in this Letter. In the event of any conflicts between this Letter and the Master Engagement Letter regarding scope of work and fees, this addendum will take precedence.

Yours faithfully, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Cyril Azobu

DC1
2

Director/Partner Acknowledgement and Acceptance

Having read the addendum letter dated 14 January 2019 relating to the extension of services to be delivered; we acknowledge acceptance of and agree to engage PricewaterhouseCoopers upon the provisions of the same, effective 01 February 2019.

For and on behalf of Nigerian Bar Association

Name ………………………………………………………………..
Title…………………………………………………………………..
Signature ……………………………………………………………
Date……………………………………………………………………

Click here to download a copy of the letter in PDF FORMAT