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Investigation

Exposed: How newly elected Taraba State Governor secretly took N200b loan from six banks to recoup election expenses

by Leading Reporters August 10, 2023

written by Leading Reporters

The newly elected Taraba State governor Emmanuel Bwacha has reportedly taken N200b loan from six commercial banks, in less than three months after he was sworn in, secret information availed LeadingReporters has revealed.

The governor who was elected under the platform of the ruling party All Progressive Congress APC in the last governorship election was said to have secretly taken the loan, in connivance with some State House of Assembly members.

The loan, the source said, was primarily to recoup monies spent during the last election and to settle some party and personal associates who made huge monetary contributions towards his emergence as the State governor.

The Governor was said to have approached some of the six bank executives and requested for the fund while assuring them that availing him of the funds will put them in the good books of the government under his watch.

The source said that the loan has already been drawn up and expended, thereby increasing the debt portfolio of the state.

“The governor’s action is quite insensitive to the plight of the impoverished citizens of Taraba. How could a governor who was just elected mobilize for as much as N200b just to carter for his election expenses without putting into consideration the effect of such loans on the state’s purse? The source quizzed.

All efforts to get the governor’s official response to the allegations were not successful as at the time of filing this report.

August 10, 2023 0 comments

Exposed: How Ribadu’s Report on El-Rufai’s 2017 presidential plans halts El-Rufai’s ministerial chances Leading Reporters

El-Rufia ministerial chances ruined as Ribadu leaked his 2027 Presidential Ambition

by Leading Reporters August 9, 2023

written by Leading Reporters

The immediate governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is having a tough time convincing President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Tinubu’s associates that he was coming to serve rather than to scheme. This follows an intel detailing how El-Rufai is planning to unsettle President Ahmed Bola’s Tinubu government by drumming tribal and religious sentiments that may pit the North against President Tinubu.

The alleged report was said to contain detailed El-Rufai’s secret activities which may negatively affect President Tinubu adversely if allowed to fester. The plan was to de-market Tinubu in the North should he plan to run for a second term. Part of El-Rufai’s plan, according to the source is to unleash tarnishing content against the president using second parties, all in a bid to cause disaffection and thus pave way for El-Rufai’s presidential ambition come 2027.

A discreet source said that Tinubu was flabbergasted at such devious schemes after El-Rufai has severally assured him of his support.

The source said that El-Rufai felt it was easier to spoil from within by serving under President Tinubu. He was said to have desperately desired to be appointed Chief of Staff to the President or Secretary to the Government of the Federation under Tinubu where he would stay and plan the President’s political downfall.

“He believes that being in the inner circle of the President’s kitchen cabinet would give him ample opportunity to understand the plans and directions of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, and thus plan counter strategies that would see his personal ambition materializing.

El-Rufai was said to have mobilized some religious hardliners who would in turn begin to stir religious sentiments that would make President Ahmed Tinubu look like a less-serious Muslim.

“He has perennially leaned towards religious sentiments and tribal bigotry as a way of self-marketing his political plans. He understands how to unsettle a system using the sentiments of religion and he has marshalled out his strategy to unleash religious threats that may see Tinubu as a weak Muslim in the eyes of the North. Such plans include sponsoring activities that would see the North branding Southwestern Muslims as weak Muslims. He intends to weaponize that strategy”. The source said.

August 9, 2023 0 comments

Headlines Investigation

LUTH, Dr, Francisca Egube Disguises As Contractor, Corners 13 Contracts from Lagos Government Worth Over N600 Million

by Leading Reporters August 2, 2023

written by Leading Reporters

By the Nigerian Civil Service regulation, section 6 (b) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act states that except where a civil servant is not employed on a full-time basis, he shall not engage or participate in the management or running of any private business, profession or trade; but nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a public officer from engaging in farming or participating in the management or running of any farm. But in sharp violation of this act, it has been discovered that a civil servant, Dr. Francisca Egube, of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital secured a total of 13 contracts from various government departments.

The contracts, worth N623,715,561.23, were awarded to Quevedo International Limited, a private organization owned and run by Egube, a doctor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. According to public procurement records obtained by Our reporters, Egube managed to secure these contracts by allegedly bypassing established procedures and manipulating the system. The contracts cover various projects, including medical equipment, renovation of schools, construction projects, and transportation-related services.

The first contract listed in the documents is titled “Provision of Lane Markings across the State LOT5” and was awarded by the Ministry of Transport. With a cost of ₦160,058,701.36, the project was assigned to Quevedo International Limited, the same company that secured the subsequent contracts investigated. The Ministry of Health also awarded multiple contracts to Quevedo International Limited for supplying and installing medical equipment in various hospitals across Lagos State.

These contracts include procuring hemodialysis equipment, oxygen concentrators, endoscopy machines, monophasic defibrillators, phototherapy machines, and radiology equipment, with a combined value of over ₦46 million. Furthermore, the State Universal Education Board entrusted Quevedo International Limited, once again facilitated by Egube, with a contract for the construction of a fence, gate, and gatehouse at Community Primary School in Ikotun, Alimosho LGEA, amounting to ₦15,826,121.15. Another contract involved the emergency renovation of Ewuntuntun Junior Grammar School in Mafoluku, Oshodi, costing ₦31,613,510.30

Additionally, two contracts for the renovation of Apapa Senior High School and Araromi Junior Secondary School Apapa were awarded by the Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools, with a total worth of ₦99,896,137.86. The Office of Drainage Services & Water Resources assigned Quevedo International Limited to construct outfall channels along Ijede Road, amounting to ₦209,121,090.56.

While it is not uncommon for private organizations to win government contracts, the involvement of a civil servant in securing multiple contracts for the same company raises serious questions about the integrity of the procurement process. Civil service regulations are designed to ensure transparency, fairness, and competition in government contracts, and prevent conflicts of interest.

August 2, 2023 0 comments

Investigation

Contract Racketeering: How Chairman Of NEPZA, Former Rep Member, Adamu Abdu Fanda, Received Contracts Worth Millions Of Naira

by Leading Reporters July 30, 2023

written by Leading Reporters

The Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Adamu Abdu Fanda, has soiled his hands in the illicit activities of contract racketeering, familiar with public office holders, thereby violating Section 6(B) of the Code of Conduct Bureau for public servants in Nigeria which forbids civil servants who are employed full time by the Nigerian government from owning or managing a private business or company.

During investigations by this online media, it was discovered that Adamu Abdu Fanda, while in his capacity as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority NEPZA, was also managing the affairs of a private company with which he used to secure a contract from the Kano state government in the year 2021.

During a thorough assessment by LeadingReporters on the public procurement portal of Kano state, it was gathered that the Kano state government, under the administration of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the former governor of Kano state, awarded a contract through the State Universal Basic Education Board, worth N6,150,596.50 to Jangaci International Ltd, for the renovation of a classroom block at “Khadigawa P.S.

With registration number 900462, Jangaci International Ltd was incorporated in Kano state, Nigeria, on 16 July 2010. It is located at No. 6, Beirut, Kano state Nigeria. It was discovered that the company, with its status unknown, has three directors as key management staff, who oversee the affairs of the company’s activities.

(Screenshot showing the board members) Adamu Abdu Fanda, who hails from Kano state, was a former House of Representatives member. He was appointed the chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority by the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari in the year 2020. The appointment took effect on September 26, 2020. News Credit Secretrepoters.com

July 30, 2023 0 comments

Femi Falana to head EFCC Leading Reporters

Exclusives Investigation

Breaking: Femi Falana to head EFCC

by Leading Reporters June 19, 2023

written by Leading Reporters

President Tinubu goes on high pedestal in his anti-corruption fight

Unless anything happens to the contrary, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has settled for the foremost Nigerian human right lawyer and good governance advocate, Barrister Femi Falana to head one of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, popularly known as EFCC

A discreet villa source that does not want his name on print hinted exclusively to LeadingReporters that President Tinubu has settled for Femi Falana to head the Economic and Financial Crime Commission. The source revealed that part of the decision is to rejig the anti-corruption agency and restore its original glory just like the days of Nuhu Ribadu.

Meanwhile the appointment of Falana into the foremost anti-corruption agency is expected to send shivers among top government functionaries, politicians and others who have perennially seen Nigeria as a cash cow to milk at will.

“The anti-corruption fight will be total. Steps would be stepped on and trillions previously stolen would be brought back to government coffers. Falana has the will and knows the way. That is why he was the preferred of the President.

The source said that the choice of Falana would rekindle the anti-corruption consciousness in the country and send a positive signal to the international community that Nigeria, under President Tinubu is here for business.

“The idea is to rejig the anti-corruption stand of Nigeria. With someone like Falana, Nigerians are going to sit up to the reality that it is not going to be business as usual. Again, it will be a positive signal to the international community that unlike yesteryears, anti-corruption in Nigeria would not end at media noises, one-sidedness, nepotism, favouritism and godfatherism.

The source as well said that Falana emergence would help President Tinubu recover most of the stolen funds from top government functionaries, especially Buhari associates who squandered the treasury unhindered.

“Falana is known to step on toes. It is going to be a bad time for political fraudsters and public office holders who keep stealing untamed from the government coffers. Falana’s emergence will inhibit corruption and corruption tendencies.

Recall that Senator Ben Murray Bruce recently warned fraudsters and fraudulent public office holders to brace for tough times under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

Breaking: Femi Falana to head EFCC: President Tinubu goes on high pedestal in his anti-corruption fight

A discreet villa source that does not want his name on print hinted exclusively to LeadingReporters that President Tinubu has settled for Femi Falana to head the Economic and Financial Crime Commission. The source revealed that part of the decision is to rejig the anti-corruption agency and restore its original glory just like the days of Nuhu Ribadu.

“The idea is to rejig the anti-corruption stand of Nigeria. With someone like Falana, Nigerians are going to sit up to the reality that it is not going to be business as usual. Again, it will be a positive signal to the international community that unlike yesteryears, anti-corruption in Nigeria would not end at media noises, one-sidedness, nepotism, favouritism and godfatherism.

Recall that Senator Ben Murray Bruce recently warned fraudsters and fraudulent public office holders to brace for tough times under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

June 19, 2023 0 comments

Investigation

Just In: About 37 bank accounts linked to REA MD, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad

by Leading Reporters April 28, 2023

written by Leading Reporters

Fresh reports have uncovered over 37 bank accounts linked to the Managing Director/CEO of Rural Electrification Agency, Engr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad.

The Eagle Online recalls that the 39-year-old MD was recently dragged before the Code of Conduct Bureau for an alleged infraction.

Ahmad was accused of alleged breach of contract code.

In the latest discovery, the 37 bank accounts were in Ahmad’s name, that of a supposed relative, companies and a amorphous Non Governmental Organisation, but all with the same Bank Verification Number: 22266427052, linked to the MD’s account

The startling discovery is the result of a discreet investigation by this medium.

On the long list are: two in Standard Chartered Bank with the name: Needle Technology; five in Guarantee Trust Bank in the same name, while in his personal name, with variations in how the three names, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, were arranged, has six with GT, four with First Bank, one with United Bank for Africa, three with Fidelity Bank, one in Stanbic IBTC with the account name, Salihijo Ahmad Foundation.

Others in his name are one in Jaiz Bank, two at Access Bank, four at First Bank and two at Ecobank.

Also found linked to the REA MD’s BVN are two GTB accounts of an NGO, Flexisaf Foundation; two in Jaiz Bank with the name: Flexisaf Edusoft Limited; another: Velocity Group Limited in Keystone Bank; one En Consulting And Projects Limited in First Bank.

The others are two under the name: Bilikisu Ahmad Salihijo, are domiciled in Zenith Bank and Jaiz Bank with all the aforementioned accounts opened with varying dates of birth of the operator.

Insiders said the accounts have come in handy when the owner desired to conceal his shares of proceeds accruing from monkey businesses he has hands in, in the agency created in 2006 as part of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act.

Last year, a Civil Society Organisation, Stop Corruption in Nigeria Foundation, called Engr. Ahmad and the REA’s Executive Director, Technical Service, Engr. Barka Sajor Joda, out.

This was done by a petition against them to the Minister for Power, Abubakar Aliyu, in which the CSO accused the duo of N2 billion misapplication.

In it, Ahmad and Joda were alleged to have awarded supervision contracts to the tune of N2 billion to 37 companies, most of which have no background in engineering to oversee jobs contracted out to engineering firms.

The report added that both sidestepped due process and bypassed over 150 engineers in REA’s employ to award the supervision to their ill-qualified cronies with each receiving N49 million.

By that account, many of the beneficiaries of the imprudence eventually engaged the services of some REA engineers with peanuts to do the jobs on their behalves.

The petitioner’s application, dated March 10, 2022 and entitled: “Corruption Alert in Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Again, reads in part: “We have it on good authority that some unwholesome activities have been going on unabated at REA since February 2021 till date. Hon. Minister Sir, it would interest you to learn that the Managing Director and Executive Director Technical Service have turned your agency into personal business ventures where they now award what they tag ‘Consultancy Service’ almost on a weekly basis! ‘Consultancy Services’ contracts were awarded by the duo without due process. A breakdown of details of the consultancy services used to siphon funds from the coffer of REA is attached as Annexure.

“We discovered that the Agency has expended at least Forty Nine Million Naira (N49 million) on each ‘Consultancy Service’ contract and close to total of Two Billion Naira (N2bn) in above regard in the last one year. The funds expended in this regard do not constitute line budget of the ministry, instead, same is diverted from the funds meant for Monitoring and sundry projects and consequently shrinking the budget and limiting the effectiveness of Monitoring Unit and projects mainly because some officers are hellbent on embezzling the funds of REA. These are verifiable facts and we urge you and the relevant bodies, authorities and agencies to investigate every shred of our petition.”

In a similar fashion to that of his MD with whom Sajor is accused of wheeling and dealing together in the agency, the latter has 14 bank accounts to his BVN: 22169699916, seven in GTB, six of which are in his name, while one is under the name of Estate of Joseph Joda Sajou.

Three are in Standard Chartered Bank, same number in Ecobank, while two are in Access Bank.

Meanwhile, an aggrieved consultant in the Advanced Cargo Declaration/Cargo Tracking Note Scheme, Donnington Nigeria Limited, has written the Code of Conduct Bureau over the alleged unlawful role played by Ahmad in the award of the project.

The firm in a letter of complaint dated April 25, 2023 and addressed to the CCB’s Chairman, specifically accused Ahmad of conflict of Interest as well as breach of Section 5 and 6 of the CCB and the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act.

According to the petitioner, it was wrong and unlawful for Ahmad to hold the position of a Director in Velocity Logistics and Marine Services Limited (Velocity), while at the same time being the boss of the NREA.

Donnington Nigeria Limited in the letter recalled that while Velocity “was incorporated at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with RC:666694 with Ahmad as one of the directors in September 14, 2006, the federal government however appointed Ahmad as the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of REA in 2019”, adding: “The said appointment was accepted by Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, without relinquishing his Directorship of the private Company, Velocity Logistics & Marine Services Ltd.”

Lead lawyer to the firm, Dr. R. O. Atabo (SAN), went ahead to point out: “Ahmad, being a prominent personality in this administration, at the helm of affairs of REA and on the corridors of power, must have directly or indirectly influenced the ‘No Objection’ granted on 24th November, 2022 By Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for the fraudulent award of Contract for the Implementation of Advance Cargo Declaration/Cargo Tracking Note Scheme Regime to include Crude Oil Tracking to five companies, including Velocity Logistics & Marine Services Ltd, on the Board of which Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad remains an active director, but must have deliberately refused to disclose the fact on oath to BPP, who in due diligence, would not have issued ‘the No Objection’, if the fact of such conflict of interest was disclosed. A suit has been instituted at the Federal High Court, Abuja in this regard.

“That the object of Velocity is such that Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad’s continuous sojourning as a Director of Velocity Logistics & Marine Services Ltd even as he serves as the MD/CEO of REA is tantamount to conflict of interest and contravention of Code of Conduct as a public officer as provided in Sections 5 and 6 of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act. Consequent upon the forgoing ’Dr. Reuben Atabo’ SAN humbly request the CCB to use its good offices pursuant to Section 23 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act to investigate and sanction this impunity.

“Consequent upon the foregoing, we humbly request that you use your good offices, pursuant to Section 23 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, to investigate and sanction this impunity, recklessness, abuse of office and breach of Laws appropriately.”

In the suit filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja last year, the firm had asked the court to stop the Federal Government from interfering in the implementation of the Cargo Tracking Note Scheme.

Defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transportation.

The suit was as a result of the alleged breach of the contract agreement by the Federal Government.

According to the plaintiff, proposal for the re-introduction of Cargo Tracking Scheme as a source of foreign exchange earnings for the government was approved by the President Muhammadu Buhari on May 4, 2021 for implementation of Advanced Cargo declaration/Cargo Tracking Note Scheme Regime to include Crude Oil for exportation.

The Plaintiff said after the approval, it engaged two technical partners, Messrs Vortexa Limited, UK and OPE World Dubai UAE respectively.

The suit said: “The Plaintiff/Applicant brought the Technical Partners from the United Kingdom (UK) and the United Arab Emirate (UAE) for the display of the Advanced Advanced Cargo declaration/Cargo Tracking Note Regime to the Government agencies of the Defendants/Respondents on the requests of the Defendants and after the display, the agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria were Satisfied.

“Following the request by the 1st Defendant and some of its agencies particularly the 37 and 4th Defendants, the Plaintiff/Applicant embarked on the procurement of a portal wherein it was charged about $370,000 and a deposit payment of $170,000 was made.

“The Plaintiff has expended over $3,000,000 in the process of complying with the requirements F. A “No Objection” Certificate was to be issued by the bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) which is the final stage of the process but the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) in defiance of the Presidential approval of May 4, 2021 has failed/ neglected to issue the certificate.

“It is necessary for this Honourable Court to restrain the Defendants from engaging any other consultants to execute the Advanced Cargo declaration/Cargo Tracking Note Scheme.”

Donnington Nigeria Limited accordingly prayed the court for an interlocutory injunction restraining the respondent either by themselves, agents, privies, and or servants from engaging another Consultant to implement the Advanced Cargo declaration/Cargo Tracking Note Regime or taking any steps or further steps in respect of the subject matter of this suit, other than the Plaintiff/Applicant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The plaintiffs also prayed the court to make an order against the government of Nigeria from interfering or stopping the further implementation of the Advanced Cargo declaration/Cargo Tracking Note Regime already commenced by the plaintiff/Applicant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The firm prayed for an order restraining the Defendants either by themselves, agents, privies, assigns, and or servants including any agency or agencies of the federal government of Nigeria from engaging any Consultant(s), Companies or firms, or nominating any other firm other than the Plaintiff/Applicant which was commenced through the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources sometime in 2021 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. Newscredit witnessngr.com

April 28, 2023 0 comments

Leading Reporters National Hospital Where 2 Nurses Attend to Over 20 Patients

Investigation

“Glorified” National Hospital Where 2 Nurses Attend to Over 20 Patients

by Folarin Kehinde February 10, 2023

written by Folarin Kehinde

Either in underdeveloped, developed or developing countries, the health system of any nation speaks volume about how the government cares for her citizens.

Shockingly, one of the self acclaimed best hospital in Nigeria and abroad, National Hospital, Abuja has been in the news for barrages of complains from patients and dumbfounded revelations about the hospital.

The outward appearance and structure of the hospital is appealing but the inside is nothing but a village hospital.

Investigations by this online medium revealed that in National Hospital, Abuja just 2 nurses attend to over 20 patients in an hospital of such magnitude.

Similarly, doctors and nurses seems not to understand each other again medically as they publicly confront each other in the presence of their patients.

Further investigations revealed that patients are subjected to buy hand gloves, plasters, cotton wool, syringe and needles, wipes and a host of medical aids for their treatment.

Also, the cooling system that should be working non stop in respective wards are non functional, hence patients were advised to come with any other means of cooling system such as small electric fans or hand fans.

Wards are also unkept with blood stains on the walls and a whole lots of anomaly.

The founding fathers of National Hospital planned that the hospital would just be for children but the vision was changed, over 20 years the hospital cannot boast of being one of the best in the world, same goes with the State House Clinic.

Even if the vision materialized, their should be a total overhaul of the hospital, but for now, the status quo of the hospital is nothing to write home about.

February 10, 2023 0 comments

Investigation

Wuse District Hospital Nephrologist

by Folarin Kehinde January 10, 2023

written by Folarin Kehinde

January 10, 2023 0 comments

Investigation

Disco laments Meter “By-Pass” by over 70,000 Consumers in Porthacourt

by Folarin Kehinde October 31, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Dr Benson Uwheru, Managing Director, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) said more than 70,000 of its customers did not recharge their pre-payment meter in the last six months.

Uwheru disclosed this to the company’s executive members at a meeting in Port Harcourt.

According to a statement by PHED’s Head of Corporate Communications, John Anonyai on Monday, the action of the customers led to the company losing billions of Naira in revenues in the last six months.

“So, how will the company continue to provide stable and quality power supply to customers when the company is not being paid for services provided,” he asked.

Uwheru said that PHED must come up with innovative means to ensure customers recharged their meters as well as collect revenues owed the company.

“So, PHED employees must be solution driven and hungry for innovation and seek more creative ways of performing their assignments.

“We must deploy every available resource to collect monies owed the company by customers.

“Henceforth, every employee has become a techno-commercial staff that should be involved in the company’s revenue drive,” he said.

The managing director said the company would henceforth conduct regular checks on customers’ meters in the four states, to checkmate energy theft and meter by-pass.

He said PHED would also adopt more stringent measures to ensure the company fulfilled the target given to it by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

“NERC ordered that distribution companies in the country must set and meet its N6 billion monthly target.

“So, we must deploy all strategies towards revenue drive via the transformers, feeders as well as become technically and commercially driven in our franchise area,” he added.

In another development, Uwheru said that PHED had deepened its partnership with First Independent Power Limited (FIPL) for enhanced service delivery to customers.

He said both companies met recently to fine-tune strategies of providing uninterrupted power supply in the four franchise states.

“In 2020, FIPL delivered and added one megawatt of electricity to our network while in 2021 the global energy company added another 12 megawatts to our network.

“In view of this, PHED customers, mostly Maximum Demand (MD) customers in Port Harcourt metro have benefitted from our partnership with FIPL.

“Expansion to other areas in the PHED franchise is currently being considered,” he said.

October 31, 2022 0 comments

Headlines Investigation

INVESTIGATION: How Governor Dave Umahi Swindles Ebonyi People, Awards Contract To Family Members

by Folarin Kehinde October 1, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The family of the outgoing governor of Ebonyi State and senatorial candidate of the All Progressive Party, Mr. David Umahi has defrauded the people of the state severely, as exposed by an investigation by Secret Reporters.

The governor gave the contract for constructing a generator house at the state international airport to AUSTAC INTEGRATED SERVICES, a company owned by his younger brother, Austin Chukwu Umahi, while they were pretentiously running for the senate ticket against each other.

The contract, titled “CONSTRUCTION OF PROPOSED GENERATOR HOUSE AT EBONYI STATE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,” was awarded on June 25, 2022, by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development for Concession, under the leadership of Eng. Nweze Fidelis Kings, commissioner of the ministry and Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ebonyi State Chapter.

The contract’s total cost was N62, 932,875 (Sixty Two Million Nine Hundred and Thirty Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy Five Naira), which is over three-fold of the N20, 000,000 (Twenty Million Naira) allocated for the project in the state’s 2022 budget.

Details of awarded contract with the proposed budget to Austac integrated services

Details of the final amount of the budget that was awarded to Austac INT. Services

According to documents obtained by SecretReporters, two other qualified bidders for the contract, ZIMSOK INTEGRATED SERVICES LIMITED and DIAMOND JOSHAM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, were turned down in favor of AUSTAC INTEGRATED SERVICES, which has other family members on its board of directors, in a clear violation of section 21 (19) of the Ebonyi State Procurement Act, 2020, which states that, “Persons who have been engaged in preparing for a procurement or part of the proceedings thereof may neither bid for the procurement in question or any part thereof either as main contractor or sub-contractor nor may they cooperate in any manner with bidders in the course of preparing their tenders.”

Additionally, it is blatantly against section 21 (1) (a) (b) of the State’s Public Procurement Law, which states that all public procurement must be made through open competitive bidding; and in a manner which is transparent, timely and equitable for ensuring accountability and conformity with this Law and regulations deriving therefrom; With the aim of achieving value for money and fitness for purpose.

The contract racketeering which is evidence of lack of adherence in practice to procurement rules and compliance with the provision of the Procurement Act, is a crime frowned at by The Independent Corrupt Practices and related offenses Commission, ICPC, in the case of a senator representing Kano North, Barau Jibrin, and his family company, Sinti Nig. Ltd, which was awarded a contract by Sokoto Rima Basin Development Authority in the sum of N199,950,000 for a project to supply empowerment items in Kano North Senatorial District.

The ICPC in its report said, “The dramatis personae in the conception and implementation of public-funded projects use the influence of their office for personal aggrandizement to the detriment of the public.”

Directors of AUSTAC INTEGRATED SERVICES LTD include NWEBONYI LOUIS, AUSTIN CHUKWU UMAHI, SHARON NNENNA UMAHI, SHARON CHIDERA UMAHI, JOSHUA OBU UMAHI, JESSICA AMARACHI UMAHI, and JACSON CHUKWUNONO UMAHI. It was established on June 19, 2008, and has its address at NO 5 DIKE CLOSE OFF NTA RD, PORT HARCOURT.

The directors include 6 Umahis.

David Umahi and his younger brother, Austine Umahi contested the APC senatorial ticket of Ebonyi South Senatorial District.

The governor later emerged as the candidate of the party after allegedly substituting his name with that of his brother on a mutual ground in accordance with the new Electoral Act. Though, there were reports of a rescheduled primary election won by the governor.

Austine Umahi had won the senatorial ticket in a primary election on May 28, 2022, at Afikpo North Local Government Area Headquarters.

On June 8, Bola Tinubu defeated David Umahi and other candidates in the APC presidential primaries. Mr. Tinubu scored 1, 271 votes while Umahi got 38.

Though the administration of Umahi has some projects to its credit, Ebonyi State has remained seriously poor while government officials loot funds through bad practices such as awarding of contracts to cronies.

Source

October 1, 2022 0 comments

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