The board of directors of the Nigerian Communications Satellite, NIGCOMSAT Limited on Monday directed the managing director, Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai to proceed on indefinite leave.

The indefinite leave followed a ministerial directive by the minister of Communications Technology, Omobola Johnson, according to a statement released by NIGCOMSAT.

It said the directive was to pave way for an investigation into the financial status of the company.

Ahmed-Rufai started as project manager of NigComSat-1, before the establishment of NIGCOMSAT Limited in April 2006.

He was named managing director/chief executive of the company in 2006.

The executive director, Marketing, Abimbola Alale, has been named acting managing director, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

Alale started as a member of the project team and was appointed director of marketing of NIGCOMSAT Ltd in 2006.