House Committee On Public Petitions Summons Imo State Government And EFCC To Appear On 6th February, 2025, Over None Payment Of Contractors Between 2011 - 2015
According to Daily Post Nigeria, the House Committee on Public Petitions ably led by Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba, has summoned Imo State Government and EFCC to appear on 6th February, 2025, over nonpayment of contractors between 2011 to 2015.
This is due a petition by Ndarani (SAN) & Co: A complaint/petition by aggrieved Imo State contractors against Accountant General of Imo State, over unpaid aggregate sum of Fiften billion, nine hundred and eighty-nine million, two hundred and thirteen thousand, two hundred and eighteen naira only (#15,989,213,218.00), being monetary sum owed contractors over the executed different contracts in imo State 2011 to 2015
between
between 2011 to 2015.
According to the petitioner, Imo State Government officially awarded different contracts to his clients between the year 2011 to 2015. Upon the award of contract ranging from construction of road network, supply of goods, installation of engineering materials, maintenance of appliances among others, Imo State Government officially issued letters of award of contract to his clients. Furthermore, Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties were signed. The Momorandum of Understanding executed between Imo State Government and his clients were of different nature, owing to the fact that Imo State Government entered into numerous contractual obligation with his clients.
It is not in doubt that Imo State Government acknowledges indebtedness to his client in the sum of Fifteen billion, nine hundred and eighty-nine million, two hundred and thirteen thousand, two hundred and eighteen naira only (#15,989,213,218), as he provides the document of evidence dated 26th April, 2019 signed by Hon. Engr Odinakachi Anyanwu (KSM), Special Assistant to the State Government on Project.
He told the Committee that the different contracts between his clients and Imo State Government were duly executed. In other words, his clients (the conteactors) and discharged their contractual obligations in line with the terms and conditions expressly stipulated in the various Memorandum of Understanding. Notwithstanding, Imo State Government breached the terms and conditions in the various MOU/ letter of Award of contract, by not fulfilling its monetary obligations with respect to the various contracts executed by the contractors.
According to the petitioner, in the course of briefing, his clients (the contractors) made him to understand that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is in the knowledge that Imo State Government is indebted to them; notwithstanding the fact that contracts awarded between 2011 to 2015 were duly executed in line with specification.
Names of the contractor being owed by Imo State Government include:
Seamex Contracting Enterprises, Daman Contracting Enterprises, Ostrich Contracting Enterprises, NG Global Services Limited, Chiwen Interior Nigeria Limited, K. E. O. Williams, Glossop Nigeria Limited, Akc Anaegesong Ind. (Nig.) Ltd, Chikason General Contracting Ventures, Willy Business Solution Enterprises, Mavia Group, Olyson Enterprises Nigeria Limited, Civilkonzulte Consultants Limited, Nelmag Builders, Royal International, Hemafield, C. H. Moses Development Enterprises, Eze Chikwuemeka Hyginus Ekpedo, Marriot Global Concepts, Isibundu Enterprises, Chikason General Contracting Ventures, Bisi Global Companies, and Toni Marshals Worldwide.
The petitioner also told the Committee that the contractors are in possession of documentary evidence to substantiate the fact that contracts awarded by the state government at different time, were duly executed.
He therefore, pleads that a detailed investigation be conducted into the complaint raised. He also pleads that the contractors, officials and representatives of Imo State Government be officially invited for public hearing and delibration with respect to the subject matter. He prays that Imo State Government should be compelled to defray its indebtedness to the contractors. And finally, that the Legislative Chamber, exercising its oversight functions, prevail over Imo State Government to fulfill its contractual obligations with respect to the various contracts.
According to Hon. Matthew Nwogu who is a member of the Committee, if the Governor has not authorized the Accountant General to pay the contractors, there is nothing the Accountant General can do about it. Therefore, the Governor should be held responsible for the nonpayment, and not the Accountant General.
And the petitioner stated that there was an amount of money, 1.9 billion naira paid in 2015 to the contractors by the Accountant General, but EFCC has withheld the money up to the moment, as it continues to hang.
According to the Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba, the Accountant General was not voted by Imo citizens. Therefore, the Governor should always be the Chief Account Officer of the state, and should always be held responsible. He therefore, suggested that EFCC should also be invited to give full account of what has happened to the 1.9 billion naira being held in their account since 2015; whether the money has been returned to Imo State Government or not.