Two South-South legislators in NDDC contract scandal …Group seeks probe of NDDC contracts awarded in past 5 years …Our contracts duly awarded, monitored and executed, says NDDC
Adetokunbo Fakeye
A coalition of civil society groups on Friday in Abuja gave a graphic detail concerning the alleged involvement of two ranking legislators from the South South geopolitical zone, James Manager and Nicholas Mutu, in contract scam with officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The organisation which likened the juicy chairmanship positions held by the two legislators to an exchanged of bribery and corruption between the leadership of both the Senate and House of Representatives, said it was high time all anti-graft agencies in the country swung into action and thoroughly probe the activities of the NDDC and all contracts awarded by the commission in the past five (5) years or more.
President of the coalition, Mr. Bassey Etuk and Secretary, Abubakar Ahmed, at a press briefing alleged that over 67 dubious contracts awarded by the NDDC within the last five years have not been fully executed while the legislators have continued to feign ignorance because they believed that they were untouchable in the eyes of the law.
Etuk words, “As we all know, the country is in a thorough renaissance in the light and spirit of the anti-corruption wind that is blowing across the length and breath of Nigeria. It is in the same spirit of the anti-corruption campaign that we are bent to unravel the corruption misery in NDDC in collaboration with some criminally minded Legislators in the National Assembly.
“Our findings reveals that the commission is riddled with different facts of corrupt practices ranging from outrageous inflated contracts, contracts splitting, non inspection of contracts for which payments have either been fully made or substantial percentage of the contracts sums released.
”We in the civil world are strongly calling on all anti-graft agencies to thoroughly and urgently probe the activities of the Commission and all contracts awarded by the commission in the past five (5) years or more.
”It is on record that the Auditor-General of the Federation had open the surface of the huge corrupt practices going on in NDDC via the 2013 Audit Report. The over ten years legislators in the National Assembly have turned themselves into legislative contractors because of the volume of contracts given to them by NDDC collocated with unregistered companies to execute the Jobs”.
He also took a swipe on the NDDC and alleged corruption within the system, saying it was unfortunate that billions could be stolen in the name of contracts while the Niger Delta as a region remained grossly under-developed in the face of billions allocated to the commission.”
Etuk listed 67 various corruption cases ravaging NDDC, including the construction of rigid pavement at Odorobu/Adobu road (phase 2) in Patani LGA of Delta State awarded to Arc. Marine & Civil Contractors.
While the construction of internal concrete pavement at Akugbene phase 2 at Bomadi LGA of Delta State was awarded to Complete Unit Ltd at the sum of N246,048,000.00, construction of Akugbene Esama Ogbein awarded to Messrs Deastern Elect & Mech Service Ltd was awarded the sum of N2,449,894,075.41.
Etuk revealed that the findings of the group also showed that some companies are used by the management of the commission to siphon money released by the Federal Government to NDDC, without the jobs awarded being done but money paid through the company’s bank account numbers.
He said: “The companies are Skyview powertechnologiesLtd, Income Electrix Ltd, Kevtric Nig Ltd, Modev Nig Ltd, AVC Nig Ltd, UIDW Nig Ltd etc were used for Twenty Billion Naira (N2OB) for visibility study contract of electrification project to be carried out by the commission, though the management cunningly split the money to cover the companies concern”.
When contacted, the Public Affairs Manager of NDDC, Mr. Abosede Ibitoye described the allegations as lies because the commission has put in place some checks and balances to avoided a situation in which there would be up executed contracts for which money has been paid.
“The allegations are not knew and they have been saying it over the years. Some people just sit down and assume that there is corruption in NDDC without knowing the measures and checks and balances we have put in place. How many letters (petitions) have they written to EFCC and ICPC? We have seen so many things,
“I am not aware of these allegations; how could we have awarded contracts without executing them? That is criminal, I am not sure we do such things. Our contracts are duly awarded, monitored and executed. We don’t pay APG again. But the last NDDC Board stopped APG, until you present Interim Payment Certificate duly certified that the job has been done, you won’t be paid. Without that nobody pays you.
“So, I don’t see anywhere a contract will be awarded without IPC and money will be paid. It is not done because where the particulars of that job are domiciled, the state officers, engineers and directors will have to certify that the jobs have been done. They have to sign, we told them that you are putting your certificates at stake because if we find out any discrepancy, you will go in for it. Our staff are mindful of all these and they are careful about any job not being done”, he submitted.
Here is the full text of the press conference
BEING A PRESS CONFERENCE TEXT ADDRESSED BY THE COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25 2015 IN ABUJA
Gentlemen of the press,
Dear colleagues, in the civil society,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we all know, the country is in a thorough renaissance in the light and spirit of the anti-corruption wind that is blowing across the length and breath of Nigeria. It is in the same spirit of the anti-corruption campaign that we are bent tounravel the corruption misery in NDDC in collaboration with some criminally minded Legislators in the National Assembly.
Our findings reveals that the Commission is riddled with different facts of corrupt practices ranging from
(a) Outrageous inflated contracts
(b) Contracts splitting
(c) Non execution of contracts for which payments have either been fully paid orsubstantial percentage of the contractssums released.
We in the civil world are strongly calling on all anti-graft agencies to thoroughly and urgentlyprobe the activities of the Commission and all contracts awarded by the commission in the past five (5) years or more.
It is on record that the Auditor-General of the Federation had open the surface of the huge corrupt practices going on in NDDC via the 2013 Audit Report.
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups with over 200 membership strength has it on good authority that NDDC in connivance with some highly placed legislators are using their offices in the National Assembly to indulged in criminal activities via contracts scam. The over ten years Legislators in the National Assembly have turned themselves into legislative contractors because of the volume of contracts giving to them by NDDC collocated with unregistered companies to execute the Jobs. In some cases,the contracts awarded to them are not fullyexecuted because they believe that they are untouchable in the face of law. please note thatsixty- seven contracts were giving to the legislators in the space of two years. some of the contracts are as follows
S/N
DESCRIPTION
CONTRACTOR
LOCATION
STATE
DATE AWRED
ORIGINAL CONTRACT SUM
1
CONSTRUTION OF RIGID PAVEMENT AT ODOROROBU/ ADOBU ROAD (PHASE II) IN PATANI LGA
ARC MARINE & CIVIL CONTRACTORS
ODOROBU /
ADOBU
DELTA
SATE
MAR-11
N248,457,000.00
2.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF INTERNAL CONCRETE PAVEMENT AT AKUGBENE (PHASE II) IN BOMADI LGA
COMPLETE UNIT
LTD
AKUGBENE
DELTA
STATE
MAR- 11
N246,048,000.00
3.
CONSTRUTION OF AKUGBENE ESAMA OGBEINAMA ROAD
MESSRS. DEASTERN ELECT & MECH SERV. LTD
AKUGBENE ESAMA OGBEINAMA
DELTA
STATE
13 –APR-11
N2,449,894,075.41
4
CONSTRUCTION OF OKPAI SHORE PROTECTION WORKS, DELTA STATE.
CAWA MARINE & OIL SERVICES. LTD
BULO NDORO
DELTA
STATE
20-APR-12
N6,178,174,054.53
5
PROVISION/RAHABILITATION OF SOLAR STREET LIGHT COMPLETE WITH 600 X 600 MM REINFORCED CONCREATE PLINTH AT AKUGBERE AND ENVIRONS IN BOMADI LGA, DELTA
ZONATES NIG.LTD
AKUGBERE
DELTA
STATE
30- JUL-13
N200,250,000.00
6
CANALIZATION OF 1KM DDPA CANAL (LOT 2), UVWIE LGA, DELTA
PREZACOM ENGENEERING LTD
DDPA CANAL
DELTA
SATE
14-JUL-14
N234,509,189.50
7
EXTENSION OF 33KV OVERHEAD LINE NETWORKS FROM OKIRIKA TO FURUKUMA COMMUNITY, DELTA SATE
KEVTRICS NIG LTD
AKUGBENE
DELTA
SATE
24-OCT-14
N903,239,253.00
8
AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUTION OF CONCRETE LANDING JETTY AND WAITING SHED AWOBU PRIMARY SCHOOOL, AKUGBENE, BOMDI LGA
CRESTVIARO LTD
AKUGBENE
DELTA
STATE
DEC-14
N239,500.000.00
9
AWARD OF CONTARCT FOR THE RECLAMATION / SAND FILLING OGF OGBE –IJOH, WARRI SOUTH WEST LGA (LOT7)
TEESET NIG, LTD.
OGBE-IJOH
DELTA
STATE
DEC-14
N951,470,384.30
10
CANALIZATION OF OLOKPOPOLO CREEK AT BOLOU –NDORO (LOT 1) IN BURUTU LGA, DELTA STATE
COMPLETE UNIT LTD
AKUGBENE
DELTA
STATE
18-DEC-14
N958,650.625.00
11
CANALIZATION OF OLOKPOPOLO CREEK AT BOLOU-NDORO (LOT 2) IN BURUTU LGA, DELTA SATE
GO- DEINSCO NIG. LTD
BOLOU-NDORO
DELTA
STATE
18-DEC-14
N805,147,500.00
12
CANALIZATION OF AKOLOBA CREEK, AKUGBE NE TOWN (LOT 10, BOMADI LGA, DELTA STATE
PRO’’’ CONSULT & ENG. SERB LTD
SEITOROU – BOLOU EKAMETAGENE
DELTA
STATE
18-DEC-14
N978,921875.00
13
CANALIZATION OF AKOLOBA CREEK, AKUGBENE TOWN (LOT 3), BOMADI LGA, DELTA STATE
TEESET NIG LTD
AKUGBENE
DELTA
STATE
18-DEC-14
N941,049,475,00
14
LAND RECLAMATION AT OJOBO, PHASE II, (LOT 4), BURUTU LGA, DELTA STATE
HING;A INTERGRATED CONCEPT LTD
OJOBO
DELTA
STATE
18-DEC-14
N919,753.730.50
15
LAND RECLAMTION AT OJOBO PHASE II, (LOT5), BURUTY LGA, DELTA STATE
INTER FAZE GLOBAL SERVICES LTD
OJOBO
DELTA
STATE
18-DEC-14
N920,172,617.50
16
LAND RECLAMTION AT OJOBO PHASE II, (LOT9), BURUTY LGA, DELTA STATE
NOVOMUNDO RESOURCES LTD
OJOBO
DELTA
STATE
18-DEC-14
N921,010,948.00
17
LAND RECLAMTION AT OJOBO PHASE II, (LOT8), BURUTY LGA, DELTA STATE
TAMARAWARE GLOBAL INTERGRATED CONCEPT LTD
OJOBO
DELTA
STATE
18-DEC-14
N920,593,174.00
18
LAND RECLAMTION/ SAND FILLING OF AGUGBENE TOWN, BOMADI, DELTA STATE (LOT 6)
FEMSBASE INT’L LTD
AKUGBENE TOWN
DELTA
STATE
18-DEC-14
N809,998,050.00
19
LAND RECLAMTION/ SAND FILLING OF AGUGBENE TOWN, BOMADI, DELTA STATE (LOT 10)
FIRST MARINE & ENGENEERING SERVICES LTD
AKUGBENE
TOWN
DELTA
STATE
18-DEC-14
N807,154.125.00
20
LAND RECLAMTION/ SAND FILLING OF AGUGBENE TOWN, BOMADI,DELTA STATE (LOT 8)
GOLD FINGERS GLOBAL CONSULTING ASSOCUATES LTD
AKUGENE
TOWN
DELTASATE
18-DEC-14
N801,111.900.00
The money released are in billions and we areshocked that people making laws could soiledtheir hands in criminal activities.
It has become very necessary for us to bring these corruption cases to the notice of the public because we aware that some people whose corrupt activities should be under closescrutiny of the anti-corruption agencies are still going about boasting with an impression that they are above the law. The legislators involved are Senator James Manager and Hon Nicholas Mutu. These shameless and lawless legislators have been adjudged in the court of public opinion has the least ranked legislators in Nigeria. The civil society independentevaluation performance report 2013/2014 also corroborate the views of Nigerians because their low performance in office is a pointer to their inability to drive home legislative gains to their various constituencies.
The Juicy chairmanship positions held by these two legislators could be likened to an exchanged of bribery and corruption between the leadership of both the Senate and House of Reps.
The many questions we need to ask them are…
(a) What impact has the legislators brought to bear on their committees as the chairmen
(b) Are they the only legislators in the south – south to held those committeesfor over ten years?
(c) Are the two committees a birth right for the two legislators?
On the other hand the NDDC is also regarded as a pool of corruption. it is unfortunate that billions could be stolen in the name of contracts while the niger delta as a region is grossly under developed in the face of billions allocated to the commission. The under listed are various corruption cases ravaging NDDC
❖ That, the MD/CEO Barr. Bassey Dan-Abja claims that the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck E, Jonathan directed him to channel the sum of One Hundred and Sixty Billion Naira (N160 Billion) to Chief Godswill Akpabio, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State through the Zenith Bank PLC. for Sponsorship of Governorship and Senatorial Candidates Election in 2015.
❖ That, between January and March 2015, the Federal Government also allocated the sum of about Three Hundred and Fifty Billion Naira ( N 350 Billion) through Central Bank of Nigeria to NDDC, but the Chairman of the Board, the MD/CEO, The Executive Directors and the Commissioners shared the money among themselves for Sponsorship of the 2015 elections.
❖ That, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer has been using his nephew; Mr. Aniefiok Attah to siphon funds from NDDC to finance his hotel building project in South Africa and other Business Investment in London.
❖ That, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. H Ogiri uses his personal assistants Mr. Tikke Harry and other persons to launder hard currencies to Banks in London, South Africa and Dubai.
❖ In October 2014, The Executive Director of Finance and Administration Mr. Ogiri led a team of four (4) Medical Doctors of NDDC headed by Dr. George Uzonwanne to his village in Abua Local Government Area in Rivers State. However, his personal assistants, Mr. Tikke Harry and others conspired and connived with his cultist group that kidnapped the medical Doctors and demanded the sum of Five Hundred Million Naira (N500 M) as ransom. The Management of NDDC negotiated and paid the sum of Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N35o M) to the kidnapers using Mr. Tikke Harry’s accounts in First Bank of Nigeria and First City Monument Bank through Central Bank of Nigeria, before the victims could regain their freedom.
❖ In May/June 2014, the MD/CEO Executive Director of Finance and Administration and the Executive Director of projects fraudulently embezzled the sum of One Billion, Three Hundred and FiftyMillion Naira (N1.355 Billion) through the approval of Contracts for supply of Thirty (30) Mitsubishi Pajero Jeeps and Eighty (80) Tractors to Mr. Aniefiok Attah, the nephew to MD/CEO of the NDDC.
❖ Out of 30 Jeeps contract awarded, only Ten (10) were supplied and only Thirty-two (32) Tractors out of Eighty (80) awarded were supplied, even though there was inflations in the cost price of each item. The actual cost of a Jeep was inflated to the tune of Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N 7.5 M) on each, while the sum of Two Million Naira (N2M) was added to the actual cost on each tractor.
❖ At the end of this dishonest transaction, the total sum of One Billion, Three Hundred and Fifty Five Million Naira (N 1.355 B) was approved by the Big-Wigs in NDDC and paid to the contractor but the purported contractor, Mr. Aniefiok Attah failed to supply the required number of Jeeps and Tractors.
❖ To abet the perpetuation of unpatriotic and nefarious activities in NDDC, the EDFA Mr. Henry Ogiri offered and gave the sum of One Billion, Three Hundred Naira(N 1.300 B) to the South-South Coordinator of EFCC, Mr. Uzor which he agreed and collected the payment of the money at Three Installment at three different time Mr. Uzor visited the NDDC Headquaters in Port Harcourt in April, October 2014 and in February 2015. Hence Mr. Ogiri is bragging that nothing would happen as far as People Democratic Party and the first Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is concerned in the arrangement.
❖ That, in the month of January 2015, the sum of Six Billion Naira (N6B) was embezzled from the commission by the Executive Director of Projects, Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli for his wedding.
❖ That, the board of NDDC has awarded the highest number of jobs and they are still awarding, when compared to any other boards in the past and this were done in contravention of the order of presidentGoodluck Jonathan, who at inauguration of the current board, warned the board sternly not to award any new contract until all abandoned and or-ongoing projects are completely done yet our out-going president could not cut any tape or commissioned any completed projects by this board. One major tactics of this boardis the incessant resort to contract splitting to avoid the scrutiny of the Bureau for public procurement (BPP).
❖ According to our findings, the following companies are used by the management of the commission to siphon money releasedby the Federal Government to NDDC, without the jobs awarded being done but money paid through the company’s bank account numbers for their selfish interest. The companies are Skyviewpowertechnologies Ltd, Income Electrix Ltd, Kevtric Nig Ltd, Modev Nig Ltd, AVC Nig Ltd, UIDW Nig Ltd etc were used for Twenty Billion Naira (N2OB) for visibility study contract of electrification project to be carried out by the commission, though the management cunningly split the money to cover the companies concern.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION.
Etuk BasseyAbubakar Ahmed
President
Secretary
