A video has been circulating online of a young lady claiming she was contracted to write an ICAN examination on behalf of one “Sarah Adi”. Political enemies of the Honourable Commissioner of Finance, Dr Sarah Enoch Adi, have seized upon this video, spreading it widely and even calling for her resignation. But the truth is clear: this is a desperate attempt at blackmail, a smear campaign aimed at distracting her and frustrating the payroll reforms currently reshaping Taraba State.

Dr Sarah Enoch Adi has categorically denied any knowledge of this individual or the ICAN examination in question. She did not register for any ICAN exam and has never met the lady in the video. To understand the absurdity of the allegation, let us ask a few simple questions:

1. How can an undergraduate with no ICAN certification be hired to write ICAN exams for someone who never even registered for the exams?

2. How can someone without any background in accounting be contracted to write a professional chartered accounting exam for a woman who holds an ND, HND, MSc, and PhD in Accounting and Finance?

3. How can someone with no professional accounting experience be chosen to sit for an exam on behalf of a career accountant who rose to the rank of Chief Accountant in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and who has already held a Certified National Accountant (CNA) of the prestigious ANAN since 2007?

4. Finally, what would Dr Sarah Enoch Adi – who has reached the peak of her career and already holds higher academic and professional qualifications – gain from pursuing an ICAN certificate that even entry-level accountants acquire?

These questions expose the illogical and malicious nature of the allegation. The truth is that some corrupt individuals, particularly those threatened by the ongoing sanitisation of the state’s payroll system, are fighting back with slander and deceit. They know that Dr Sarah Enoch Adi’s reforms are cutting off their illicit inflows, and they will go to any extent, even fabricating scandals, to derail her work.

But lies do not erase the truth. Blackmail cannot halt reform. I therefore call on ICAN and the Nigerian Police Force to swiftly investigate this matter, identify the sponsors behind the video, and make their findings public. Only by exposing and punishing such fabrications can we deter future attempts to slander reform-minded leaders.

Finally, I urge Dr Sarah Enoch Adi to remain resolute and focused. She is not only carrying out a mandate from Governor Dr Agbu Kefas but also standing as a symbol of integrity, reform, and service to the people of Taraba. No amount of blackmail can silence the truth or turn back the clock on progress.

Amb. Rikwense Muri: President, STYCOP Peace Project