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Tag: contracts

  • Amnesty: ‘Dokubo’s plan to review contracts okay’

    The Niger Deltans for Accountability and Good Governance yesterday in Abuja backed the planned review of contracts and personnel audit by the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo.

    The group described as misleading insinuation that Dokubo abdicated his responsibility to one of his relatives, Ms. Hilda Dokubo, who is said to wield absolute power at the Amnesty Office.

    According to a statement signed by the spokesman of NDAGG, Claudius Egba, there exists a subterranean move to distract Dokubo from his vow to reposition the programme.

    Vowing to thwart the plot, Egba dismissed a statement by the Trained Agitators Forum as a hoax, noting that it was targeted at stopping the probe of contracts awarded by Dokubo’s predecessor, including directives that a personnel audit be carried out to determine the relevance of each staff.

    The statement reads in part: “First, we must clarify that there is no such group as Trained Agitators Forum. It is just a creation of some disgruntled contractors and enemies of the Niger Delta, who are not happy at the decision of the new Coordinator to review the huge and un-performing contracts awarded by his predecessor, Brig-Gen Paul Boroh (Rtd). They want business as usual but the new Coordinator assured us that he will never allow that and we believe him and totally support his decision to carry out a holistic review of the huge contracts awarded by his predecessor.

    “We have just met with Prof. Charles Dokubo, the new Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme and he assured us that he has not made any appointments since he assumed office. He has been working with the personnel he met on ground. We, in fact totally frown against that because we are aware that a number of the management staff that worked with his predecessor, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh did not live up to expectations. Some of them were even known to be very corrupt. We advised him to clean up the place even if it means doing away with most of the personnel in that office,

    “Secondly, the new Coordinator is lucky to have someone like Hilda Dokubo who, since the inception of the Amnesty Programme in 2010, has been involved in one way or the other with the Amnesty Office, offer him tips on how to succeed on the job. Though they share the same surname, Hilda and Professor Dokubo are not related at all. They are just maligning Hilda Dokubo in their bid to distract and possibly smear the new Coordinator.

    “We have our eyes on the Amnesty Office and we can confirm to you all that the new Coordinator has thus far shown that he is focused, disciplined and able to do the job that has been entrusted to him,” the NDAGG Spokesman said.

    Egba noted that Dokubo’s pedigree must have informed the urge by some ‘panicky contractors’ to sponsor a campaign of calumny against his person so as to distract him.

    “These contractors are very used to persons they can control and easily corrupt. But the Professor’s pedigree as an incorruptible scholar is giving them nightmares. They are now going about saying all sorts of negative things simply because the new Coordinator is not willing to pander to their usually corrupt dictates. They have to get used to the new order, a new Sheriff is in town.

    “We know all of them and we are not afraid to call them by their names. We are watching very closely, if they continue with their plot to defocus this new Coordinator, we would be left with no other option but to name and shame them. They are all contractors who want the rotten era at the Amnesty Office to continue. We will expose all of them and show Nigerians the relevant documents about their contracts if they do not stop forthwith from distracting Professor Dokubo,” Egba added.

     

  • Enugu sacks Nike Lake Hotel board, awards additional N1.170bn road contracts

    The Enugu State government has awarded contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of more urban and rural roads at the cost of over N1.170 billion.

    In a similar development, the state government in a bid to reposition the Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu to meet with the standard befitting of its three-star status and generate revenue, dissolved the board of the hotel to enable the government carry out renovation works accordingly.

    Addressing newsmen after the meeting of the State Executive Committee (EXCO), the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji, disclosed that the new road projects include the constructions of Achi Akpa –Daughters of Divine Love (DDL) Juniorate Main Entrance, Abakpa-Nike, Enugu East Local Government Area; Colliery Avenue to Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Headquarters, Enugu North L.G.A, and Reconstruction of Ezenwani Akpaka and Isukwuato Street/Ogui road, Asata Enugu at the cost of N46.309m, N32.348m and N19.996m, respectively.

    Other projects, which took the chunk of the N1.170b, include the re-awarded contract for the completion of Orie Emene-Adoration Ground road (Adoration Ground section), Emene, Enugu East L.G.A and the extension of Nkwo Inyi-Akpugo Eze- Anambra State border road in Oji River L.G.A, at the cost of N418.654m and N653.268m, respectively.

    The works commissioner explained that the contractor handling the Orie Emene-Adoration Ground road withdrew formally, which necessitated the decision of the council to re-award the contract to another construction company, adding that the beauty of it was that “the government will not spend any extra cost but the balance of the initial contract sum”.

    Nnaji further explained that the Colliery road, which was abandoned for over 20 years needed to be rehabilitated because of its relevance, considering that the “One Stop Investment Shop” office of the Ease of Doing Business is located there.

    He noted that the “government shifted its attention to Oji River LGA in line with the resolve to attract development to every corner of the state as well as the rural development agenda, adding that the council decided to complete the Nkwo Inyi – Akpugo Eze-Anambra State border road to promote economic growth and reduce urban migration.

    Nnaji stated that the state government has remained consistent with the duration of contract executions, and stressed that the money for the payment of all contracts awarded are available, saying: “We have the project, we have the company and we have the money to pay”.

    He therefore, encouraged all contractors in the state to endeavor to complete their projects in due time and according to specifications.

    On the Nike Lake Resort Hotel, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Rita Mbah said that following the dissolution of the board of the establishment, the council directed her ministry to take over the management of the hotel pending the constitution of a proper management.

    Mbah added that the government plans to embark on extensive renovation of the hotel and put all the facilities in place to bring it up to standard to generate revenue for the state as well as explore its potentials for public-private partnership.

    According to her, “Nike Lake Resort Hotel is actually meant to be a tourist site and we have lake there. We intend to dredge the lake and put a boat ride. A lot of things have to be done there and only government can do those things and this is the reason for taking over the hotel by the government.

    “The government is talking to major Hotels.  But before they come in, we have to improve the standard of Nike Lake to a particular level. Actually, the hotel is under privatization and commercialization. It is open for anybody to come and invest”.

  • Dubious contracts: TCN cancels 150 letters of intent

    Dubious contracts: TCN cancels 150 letters of intent

    • Threatens to disconnect GenCos

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Interim Managing Director, Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed, said he has cancelled 150 letters of intents upon assumption of office.

    He described the company as a fertile ground for fake and dubious contracts for settlement of politicians before his assumption of office.

    “We have stepped on so many toes in TCN. There are so many Nigerians, who take TCN as their farm. All those dubious contracts they were getting we have stopped them from getting them.

    “All those arrangements, including letters of intent, I cancelled 150 letters of intents. A letter of intent is a letter for anarchy; when you give a letter to a contractor and say go and do this job any amount you say, I will pay it. Since I came to TCN, I have not signed a single letter of intent,” he told reporters in Abuja at the weekend.

    The TCN chief also threatened to disconnect electricity generation companies (GenCos), which refuse to comply with the three governor-governor equipment.

    He said the company was going to write to inform the GenCos to comply with the directive or else they will be shut out of the national grid.

    Mohammed said: “We have written to the GenCos telling them to comply with the three governors. Some of the power generators said they cannot comply with the three governor. Those with good machines are complying, but those with bad machines have not complied.

    “We gave them time to comply; some of them have taken time to comply. For example, Jebba was going to use three governors for last week, but they said they were on it already. Those who refused to comply with three governors, we are writing them and we are giving them time, if they don’t comply, we have to shut them out of the grid.”

    He said owing to the discovery of insecurity of the grid in September and October, the firm inaugurated a committee to find out the last time the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) conducted its relay study. The committee discovered that in the last 10 years, the company had not done any relay study.

     

  • $25b contracts: PENGASSAN vows to resist interference in NNPC administration

    $25b contracts: PENGASSAN vows to resist interference in NNPC administration

    Oil workers, under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), have vowed to resist any attempt by officials not designated for the administration of the  Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to meddle in the affairs of the association.

    The workers warned that they would stop non-executive officials from using top management positions in the NNPC to settle cronies at the detriment of dedicated members of the staff.

    In a statement by the Secretary of the Group Executive Council (GEC) of PENGASSAN in NNPC, Comrade Sulaiman Sulaiman, they noted that the recent re-organisation in the NNPC was in good faith and it encouraged internal growth.

    They said: “We are convinced that the recent re-organisation in NNPC is in good faith and in tandem with our call to allow internal growth in the system through hard work and positive appraisals.

    “We shall continue to reject and vehemently resist attempts in meddling in the day-to-day running of the organisation by non-executive officials of the Corporation. We will no longer allow our institution to be an avenue to settle friends and cohorts into management positions of NNPC at the detriment of dedicated staff with all the requisite qualifications within the system.

    “Problems will continue to occur as long as the Chairman of the Board continues to meddle into the day-to-day running of the organisation, which is a management role. Any attempt to allow this happen will spell doom for the country and create a window for abuse.”

    The senior staff said good practice in corporate governance required absolute segregation of oversight role from the management’s day-to-day functions.

    They asked: “Why should a board chairman seek to meddle in internal organisational adjustment?” They noted that the chairman should focus on performance appraisal of the Board’s committees and its members, rather than wanting to dictate appointments or award contracts in NNPC.

    The workers, contrary to claim in the said letter of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to the President, members of staff are no longer afraid to talk or express their opinion, especially with the domestication of the whistle blowing policy and re-constitution and launch of the Anti-Corruption Committee by the GMD.

  • Osinbajo’s denial: So who signed NNPC’s contracts?

    Osinbajo’s denial: So who signed NNPC’s contracts?

    Earlier on Thursday, Osinbajo’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande in a series of tweets said that the Vice President approved financing joint ventures for Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    Akande said the financing were approved after due diligence by the Vice President when he acted as President when President Muhammadu Buhari was away in the United Kingdom.

    The VP’s aide said his principal approved the recommendations for the financing as part of necessary actions to deal with the backlog of unpaid cash calls and incentivise investments.

    According to Akande Professor  Osinbajo made the clarification in view of media enquiries that followed NNPC’s claim that the contracts were indeed approved by Osinbajo.

    “Action necessary to deal with huge backlog of unpaid cash calls which Buhari adm inherited and also to incentivise much needed fresh investments in the oil & gas sector,” Akande had tweeted.

    However hours later, Akande issued a statement in which he said Professor Osinbajo,  said that he only approved two loans for the NNPC and not contracts as reported by the media.

    Osinbajo made the clarification in Bonny Island where he flagged off the Bodo-Bonny Road, Rivers state.

    His words: ” They were of financing loans, joint venture loans, that have procured so in some cases NNPC ventures have to secure loans and they need the authorization to secure those loans.

    “While the President was away, I granted authorization which is what the law provides.

    “The law actually provides for that authorization, so I did grant all of those, in fact, there were two of them but those are presidential approvals but they are specifically for financing joint ventures and they are Loans not Contracts”, the Vice President added.

    Based on the earlier claim by the NNPC, the controversial contracts were signed when President Muhammadu Buhari was out of the country for medical treatment.

    If Buhari indeed signed the contracts, he must have done so while in London having handed over government to Osinbajo as Acting President.

    The question begging for answer is who really signed the contracts which were not sent to the NNPC board headed by Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu.

  • $25b contracts: NNPC, Baru tackle Kachikwu

    $25b contracts: NNPC, Baru tackle Kachikwu

    Board can’t approve contracts, says oil giant’s handbook

    Is the controversy over the $25 billion contracts a storm in a tea cup? So believes the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    A source has stated the details of the contracts, following allegations by Minister of State Dr Ibe Kachikwu, who said Group Managing Director (GMD) Maikanti Baru:

    • awarded $25b contracts unilaterally;
    • ran a “bravado management”, sidelining the board and the minister; and
    • made appointments without consultations.

    Neither the Federal Government nor the NNPC is committing any cash into the $25billion transactions involving more than six International Oil Companies (IOCs).

    Some of the international competitive biddings on the transactions were witnessed by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for transparency, the source said.

    Both the NNPC and its Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, have insisted that the transactions validly conducted within the expenditure limits of the agency.

    They claimed that the board of NNPC cannot approve contracts but they can review and give advice.

    President Muhammadu Buhari is said to be keeping mum to hear from all sides and let the facts and figures speak for themselves. He is said to be unruffled by the allegations in an August 30 memo to him by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

    To avoid any ethnic backlash, there is pressure on the President to spare Kachikwu and Baru if any infractions are noticed at the end of ongoing investigation.

    The Federal Government and the NNPC will not commit any money to the five projects in question, it was learnt.

    It was gathered that prospective investors were expected to source for funds as may be applicable.

    It was also learnt that as for crude transactions and Direct Sales, Direct Purchase(DSDP), the buyers were expected to pay directly into dedicated account (s) of the Federal Government.

    These facts are contained in the presentations of NNPC and GMD to the Presidency and some board members on the allegations raised by Kachikwu on five transactions.

    The projects are:

    • Over $10b Crude Term Contracts
    • Over $5b DSDP contracts
    • The $3b AKK pipeline contract
    • Various financing allocation funding contracts with the NOCs valued at over $3bn
    • Various NPDC production service contracts valued at over $3bn – $4bn

    A source in NNPC management, who spoke in confidence with a document, said: “Our position is that there is so much ignorance on the $25billion transactions. First, there is nothing like a Contract Award in the real sense of the word where money is paid out by NNPC to Contractors.

    “The NNPC was actually in the red as at the time the Minister took over as the GMD. Kachikwu tried his best to exit the debts especially the over $7billion JV cash calls in which he was able to secure 25% relief/rebate. Now, with Kachikwu’s efforts, all the JV partners are back.

    “Baru came around to turn things around and make NNPC and its subsidiaries viable or profit-oriented. There was no money to spend on projects in NNPC and we had to look for alternative sources of funding. So, NNPC is not committing any Kobo to the five transactions. Instead, the oil buyers and investors are to look for money in return for some products or other returns as peculiar to every agreement.

    “And all the transactions have clauses that returns from the investments be paid directly to the government’s account(s), not NNPC’s.

    “Therefore, NNPC selling crude oil to a customer is not a Contract Award; it is a commercial transaction.”

    The document also clarified a few things as follows: “It is the GMD of NNPC that has ever been signing Crude Oil Sales Term Contract at NNPC from the beginning of that corporation as NNOC. From Lawrence Amu, to Chief Morinho, Aret Adams until even when Kachikwu was GMD.

    “When a Customer signs a Term-Contract to buy Nigerian Crude Oil; it is covered by the customer’s bank opening in favor of NNPC either a Standby Letter(s) of Credit (SBLC) or a Documentary Letter(s) of Credit (DLC). Such banks are only amongst the top 50 international banks that are acceptable.

    “It is after lifting any crude oil under the Sales Contract that the L/C is negotiated and the proceeds go to the accounts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the name of NNPC. These accounts are held in New York, mostly. There is no cash that changes hands between individuals for and on behalf of NNPC.

    “Dr. Kachikwu as GMD it was that signed these same contracts in his capacity in 2015/16.

    “There is no law violated here by the NNPC. NNPC Handbook (January 2017) and Public Procurement Act are explicit on the financial limits.

    “The Board of NNPC cannot approve transactions or contracts; it can only review and advise because most members are technical experts who have paid their dues in their careers. All these issues will come forth during Senate investigative hearing.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The AKK Pipeline Project was inherited and almost 80 per cent completed. We have investors coming in with funds to complete it and we reached an agreement on how to recoup the invested funds.

    “The Direct Sales, Direct Purchase (DSDP) policy was an alternative to the Crude Oil Swap of the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. It was formulated by a staff, tabled before the Board and implemented. In fact, some members of the Board recommended the promotion of the affected staff.”

    Regarding the transactions, the NNPC source said there were documents to show that the transactions went through international competitive biddings.

    “Some of those involved are International Oil Companies (IOCs). We will release their names. Even the $10billion crude terms transactions; about 10 companies were involved. At the appropriate time, we will release the details on those with links with two of these firms.

    “The bidding process was internationally competitive and witnessed by some Non-Governmental Organisations. The standards set by the Minister were strictly followed and everything was reported to the Board of NNPC.”

    President Buhari is said to be planning to hear from all sides and let the facts and figures speak for themselves.

    Buhari was allegedly unruffled by the allegations in Kachikwu’s August 30 memo.

    To avoid any ethnic backlash, there is pressure on the President to spare Kachikwu and Baru if any infractions are noticed at the end of the investigation.

    A government source said: “The President has decided to be quiet because he is hearing from all sides. He does not want to be seen as interfering in the case at hand. At the end of the day, the presidency will release the facts and figures to Nigerians.

    “The President has not personally benefited from the transactions and there is no trace of any money missing. The good thing is that some IOCs were involved in these transactions and Nigerians will soon know them.

    “The only thing the leakage of the memo has caused the administration of President Buhari is embarrassment on some issues which were distorted.”

    Another government source added: “Baru may have to respond to the allegation of insubordination. The Minister may be asked to account for the leakage of the memo. Being once a journalist or writer, no one gives him any benefit of doubt. Yet, Kachikwu has denied any knowledge of the leakage.”

    “But there is pressure on the President to avoid any ethnic backlash by cautioning the two leaders after clearing the Augean Stable,” the source said.

     

    What NNPC handbook says

    The Handbook reads in part: “Due process involves the award and execution of contracts, projects and other activities by organizations openly, economically and transparently in accordance with the provisions of the law and without any regard for self-interest.

    “NNPC as an organization has established a Tenders Board in all its subsidiaries as well as the Corporate Headquarters.

    “By the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the NNPC Tenders Board is the final approving body for NNPC awarded contracts.

    “Any contracts for a value beyond the financial limits of the NNPC Tenders Board will go via the Board to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.

    “The limits of financial authority for expenditure as approved by the Federal Government are as follows:

    • Federal Executive Council (FEC)—( From N2.70billion or from $20million)
    • NNPC Tenders Board—( From N1.40million up to N2.70billion and $410million up to $20million
    • Group Executive Committee (GEC)——( From N540 million up to N1.40 billion and from US$4 million up to US$10 million)
    • Directorate Executive Committee (DEXCOM)—( From N270 million up to N540 million and from $2 million up to $4 million
  • ‘Fayemi govt terminated 71 contracts, 55 reviewed’

    ‘Fayemi govt terminated 71 contracts, 55 reviewed’

    A witness, Mr. Adedayo Ajobiewe, has told the Judicial Commission of Enquiry probing the management of Ekiti State’s finances between October 2010 and October 2014 that 71 contracts were terminated under former Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration.

    Ajobiewe, who is the director of Cabinet Matters at the Special Services Department in the Governor’s Office, spoke yesterday when he appeared before the seven-member jury.

    The director said 55 contracts were either varied or reviewed within the period.

    The witness, who was led in evidence by the lawyer to the commission, Mr. Sunday Bamise, tendered 12 exhibits admitted in evidence, and read parts of his statement on oath.

    Ajobiewe recalled that within the period under review, the state’s Tenders Board approved 1,035 briefs, including 909 contracts, with 71 of them terminated and 55 varied or reviewed.

    Giving a breakdown of the terminated contracts, the director said 17 of them were terminated in 2010, 21 in 2011, 11 in 2012, six in 2013 and 16 in 2014.

    The witness said 22 contracts were either varied or reviewed in 2010, nine in 2011, six in 2012, eight in 2013 and 10 in 2014.

    Answering questions from a member of the panel, Mr. Idowu Ayenimo, a chief magistrate, Ajobiewe, said contracts could be terminated for various reasons, depending on prevailing circumstances.

    He said: “There are some reasons for terminating contracts: it may be because the contractor does a shoddy job or if a contractor abandons the project.

    “If this happens, a joint measurement will be carried out by the representatives of the contractors, the Bureau of Public Projects and the client ministries. Our office only approves.

    “When a joint measurement is done, a legal advice will be sought from the Ministry of Justice. My office plays no role in the variation of contracts; the state’s Tenders Board approves variations done by client ministries.”

    After Ajobiewe was discharged from the witness box, the Chairman, Justice Silas Oyewole, said the panel, as part of its brief, will today embark on a fact-finding visit to projects executed during the Fayemi administration.

  • Delta workers seek active on stalled contracts

    The Niger Delta Volunteer Forces (NDVF) has called on the Federal Government to intervene in the stalled contract for the identification, location, marking and removal of wrecks in the nation’s waters.

    The group, in a statement  by its spokesperson, J. C Gordon, alleged that over three months after NIMASA advertised for expression of interest for the contracts, it has kept mute “over the projects, which would have had  direct impact on the lives of youths in the South South, especially the Niger Delta region surrounded by the country’s waters.”

    According to NDVF, the contract would not only clear the waterways to boost economic activities of the country, it would also create jobs for youths across the South-South, South-East and South-West regions.

    The statement called on the Presidency,  Ministry of Transport, the National Assembly and other relevant government agencies to properly monitor the contract award process to ensure that only qualified who have the interest of the Niger Delta people as well as based in the region, get the final nod to positively impact the lives of the people in the area.

    It argued that the contracts were capable of engaging youths in the region and discourage them from activities inimical to the socio-conomic wellbeing of the nation.

    “We decided to call the attention of relevant authorities to the award of the wreck removal contracts as investigations have revealed monumental underhand dealing, hence the tactical undue delays. We want the Presidency, Ministry of Transport, the procurement agency and the National Assembly to immediately look into this disturbing revelation to avoid complications, and insecurity in the Niger Delta Region,” the statement said.

     

  • ‘Compliance with ECS major requirement for govt contracts’

    Evidence of compliance with the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) will now form part of requirements for bidding for the Federal Government contracts, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has said.

    Its Managing Director, Adebayo Somefun, who made this known during a visit to the Lagos regional office of the organisation, said efforts were being made to ensure that the compliance certificate from the fund became a major requirement in government offices a across the country.

    While decrying the non-chalant attitude of employers to comply with the provision of the law establishing the Employee Compensation Scheme, he said the “Management of NSITF is working on making the NSITF Compliance Certificate compulsory for all employers who were interested in bidding for government contracts.

    “The management is working with major stakeholders to ensure that NSITF Compliance Certificate becomes a major requirement at important government offices. This would go a long way in ensuring strict compliance and thereby lessen the burden on enforcement teams.”

    According to him, most employers were taking the implementation of ECS with latitude compared to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) due to lack of prosecution or closure of business premises.

    The NSITF does not have the power to seal up company premises, it had power to do other things that could enforce compliance and instructed the regional office to bring him up to speed the challenges inhibiting high compliance rate.

  • Senator in trouble over N4b contracts, 20 bank accounts

    Senator in trouble over N4b contracts, 20 bank accounts

    EFCC probes lawmaker’s assets missing on Code of Conduct Bureau form

    A senator is the subject of a massive probe for not executing N4 billion contracts awarded by the government of Delta State, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    Sources told The Nation yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was also looking into how the lawmaker operates 20 accounts in six banks with different signatories.

    Besides, the senator allegedly used a company, to buy a 12-storey building in Apapa, Lagos, belonging to the Delta State Government for N805 million.

    The Nation learnt that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) record showed that the senator  “did not declare all the companies and bank accounts he has despite being operational prior to the time he made the declaration”.

    The senator’s investigation, a source said, followed a petition from  Delta State.

    The petitioner alleged that the senator owns a firm which was awarded a N1,580,000,000 contract by the Direct Labour Agency to supply construction equipment.

    Instead of following specifications, the petition said, the senator allegedly supplied used equipment, contrary to the Bill of Quantity which specified new ones.

    Besides,  his firm was alleged to have  secured  over N2 billion contracts from nine local government areas in Delta worth over N2billion when it was yet to be registered under the Company and Allied Matters Act.

    The firm was alleged to have  secured N474, 936,000 contract from the Waste Management Board  to supply bulldozers, payloaders and tipper lorries.

    The, EFCC, however, found out that the equipment were used items contrary to contract specifications.

    A source in the anti-graft commission said: “We have traced five companies to the senator.  We were able to detect that in the course of contract execution, his company  imported and supplied used equipment, contrary to the specifications in the bill of quantity.

    “Our team has discovered that the senator’s personal and companies’ bank accounts were linked to a bank verification number (BVN) which has more than 20 accounts domiciled in six banks.

    “But his relative is the sole signatory to the accounts.

    “They also located  one foreign account identified with the senator in HSBC Bank in Marbile Arch London, United Kingdom”.

    Responding to a question, the EFCC source added: “So far, the senator has questions to respond to bordering on false asset declaration, official corruption, procurement fraud, tax avoidance, false information, impersonation and embezzlement of public funds.

    “We are almost concluding the investigation of the senator. We will soon invite him for interview.”