By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
More than 60 contractors who allegedly invested personal funds in the construction of additional technical colleges in Benue State have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over contracts valued at more than N100 billion, as the anti-graft agency investigates alleged irregularities in the projects.
The investigation has led to the interrogation of four senior officials of the Benue State Government, including the former Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, now Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, Rev. Frederick Ikyaan.
Others reportedly questioned by the EFCC Makurdi Zonal Directorate are the incumbent Commissioner for Education, Mrs Margaret Adamu; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Timothy Ornguga; and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mrs Helen Nambativ.
The controversy centres on contracts for the construction of additional technical colleges across the state, which the contractors allegedly undertook after receiving assurances that the projects had the backing of the state government.
An EFCC source, who spoke to journalists in Makurdi on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said the contracts, valued at over N100 billion, were allegedly awarded last year without the approval of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The source alleged that one Lawrence Kyaku, who reportedly presented himself as a Senior Special Assistant to the governor, persuaded the contractors to mobilise to their respective sites and commence work, claiming that the administration had approved the projects.
He further alleged that Kyaku collected huge sums from some contractors under the guise of facilitating the projects, including over N100 million from one contractor and N50 million from another.
“The man had been claiming he is the SSA to the Governor and was deceiving the contractors to go ahead. He also deceived the commissioner that he had the governor’s backing to do the work,” the source alleged.
The investigation has also brought under scrutiny a letter allegedly signed by the Attorney-General, Prof. Ornguga, containing a bank account number into which contractors were required to pay one per cent of their contract sums as vetting fees.
According to the EFCC source, the contractors said the letter and the account details convinced them that the projects were genuine government contracts, prompting them to commit their funds.
“This one per cent may look to you as a small amount, but when it involves a huge amount, it is huge,” the source said.
The source disclosed that the contractors’ complaints emerged after they encountered difficulties securing payment for work already executed, prompting them to approach the anti-graft agency.
He said the EFCC was examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged contract awards, the payments made by the contractors and the respective roles of the former commissioner, incumbent commissioner, permanent secretary and other officials in the process.
Although the Benue State Executive Council had reportedly approved the establishment of additional technical colleges, the source said the commission was investigating whether the individual contracts were properly authorised and whether due administrative procedures were followed.
The source added that investigators had been deployed to examine the transactions and establish the total amount allegedly collected from the contractors.
He stressed that the investigation was ongoing and that the commission had yet to reach a conclusion on the allegations against the officials and other individuals mentioned.
