N18.9bn bush clearing contracts: Reps committee probes identities of contractors, writes CAC, FIRS

The Public Account Committee of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, resolved to unmask the real identities of the owners of the Companies which took contracts valued at the sum of N18.9bn from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for clearing of bushes, land preparation, rehabilitation of soil plant lab and others during the last COVID-19 lockdown of the country.

The resolution followed the appearance of representatives of two of the 20 affected companies at the resumed investigative hearing of the committee on queries to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation.

The affected companies are; Easy Construction Company LTD and NUKAAG VENTURES LTD respectively while the remaining 18 Companies failed to show up.

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The Committee being chaired by Hon Woke Oke (PDP- OSUN) said that the two representatives of the Companies (Johnson Philip and Taiwo Idowu), were of the Managerial cadre and as such not competent to appear before the Committee going by the Rules of the House.

Responding to a question posed by the Chairman of the Committee on whether they were familiar with the submission submitted to the Committee on the award and execution of the contractors so as not to mislead it, they both said no.

Consequently, the Committee directed the duo to leave immediately and directed that the Managing Directors or Chairmen of the companies should personally appear before it and speak to the submission before the Committee

In addition, Hon Oke directed the Clerk of the Committee to write to the Registrar of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to finish the Committee the detailed information of the affected 20 companies, including a year of incorporation, Corporate offices, names of the owners, shareholders amongst others

According to him, “We are not concerned about who won the contracts, what we are after is to deter value for money paid out and the sites of the projects, and we will carry that mission to the letter.

“The Clerk should also write the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) to finish the Committee about the financial status of the Companies.

Hon Oke assured that the Committee would carry out a diligent investigation into the matter as it was interested in finding out the location of the projects and the significance of such projects to the country.

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N18.9bn bush clearing contracts: Reps committee probes identities of contractors, writes CAC, FIRS

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N18.9bn bush clearing contracts: Reps committee probes identities of contractors, writes CAC, FIRS