.Allegedly uses phony companies as fronts
.Involved in alleged multi-million naira contracts
While the Nigerian masses has continued to suffer under the weight of graft, misappropriation and corruption in all its ramifications, the revelations of corruption by persons who hold various offices in trust have continued as in the case of the federal commissioner of works in todays edition, DAUDA ISMAIL writes.
Cases of graft against pubic office holders in Nigeria has virtually become a norm, making many see every public office holder as one not to be trusted. In this regard, there are substantial allegations of award of contracts involving huge amounts of public funds to “inactive companies” by the Federal Ministry of Works. AljazirahNigeria Newspapers was thus motivated to carry out an investigation into these allegations as part of its role in enlightening the public on issues making the rounds in our polity.
The investigation revealed an alleged series of payments made by the Federal Ministry of Works, FMW, in 2024. Specifically on November 12, 2024, the FMW paid a cumulative sum of N10,910,572,459 78 (Ten Billion, Nine Hundred and Ten Million, Five Hundred and Seventy-Two Thousand, Four Hundred-and Fifty-Nine-Naira, Seventy-Eight Kobo) to 25 companies.
This medium further noticed that 13 out of the 25 companies were inactive and did not file annual returns in the previous years, thus corroborating allegations made in that regard, as it also put a question mark on the integrity and credibility of the process that is used to select most of these companies for awards.
In addition, investigations revealed a series of underhanded procurement dealings concerning the FMW, a situation whereby monies paid to contractors for contract supposedly executed, sometimes found their way to the accounts of companies owned by staff of the Ministry, allegedly as kickbacks.
For instance, Wutara Integrated Services Nig Ltd, a company allegedly linked to Engr. Tongman Amos Adam who is said to be the Federal Controller of Works in Borno State, is alleged to have on November 9, 2023, received an aggregate of One Hundred and Twenty Five Million Naira (N125,000,000.00) in two tranches N100,000,000.00 and N25,000,000.00 respectively from Citymart Integrated Services Ltd and Netscape-Web System (Nig) Ltd, two companies which the FMW is documented to have paid over 10 Billion Naira over the years for several contracts purported to have been executed, with the funds allegedly being transferred to a UBA account operated by same staff with account No:1001761774 and also, the said funds were alleged to have been received via a Wutara Integrated Services Ltds Zenith Bank account number: 1221116316, where the same Controller of Works is the sole owner of the company and signatory to the same account.
In the Application for Registration of company form, Tongman Amos Adams with email [email protected], and Tudun Wada, Ring Road, Jos, Jos-North, Plateau State as Service Address appeared as chairman, and twice as shareholders. all registered as male, with the same date of birth, thereby confirming that he is the sole owner of a company limited by shares, which in itself is fraudulent.
A letter titled, Opportunity for a Right of Response to Allegations of Willful Violation of the Federal Government Employee Code of Conduct, And Illegal Receipt of Kickbacks on Public Works Contract, dated December 16, 2024, was sent to the Borno State Controller, Engr. Tongman Amos Adam via DHL with waybill number 3415169575, shipped same day it was written, and delivered on December 20 of same month was not responded to.
The letter which demanded his response to the allegations of graft stated as follows:
That you are a staff of the Federal Ministry of Works known to have been receiving salaries from the federal government via a UBA Acct No: 1001761774.
That you are the owner of WUTARA INTEGRATED SERVICES NIG, LTD a company in which you are purported to maintain the position of a director, and enjoy 100% control over.
That Wutara Integrated Services Nig! Ltd maintains an account with Zenith Bank, with Acct No: 1221116316 of which you are signatory to.
That in several instances, the company has received huge funds from companies that are documented to have executed contracts in the Federal Ministry of Works. Some of the companies mentioned are City Mart Integrated System Ltd and Net Scape Web System (Nig) Ltd. Wherein a sum of N100,000,000.00 and N25,000,000.00 was alleged to have been paid into your account (Please note, other companies and amounts purported to have been received have been withheld on purpose and could be provided upon request).
That the funds duly received could be kickbacks from inflated contracts.
After the letter went unanswered, AljazirahNigeria Newspapers then addressed another letter titled, Request for Clarification on Allegation of Illegal Payments and Abuse of Procurement Procedures with Diversion of Funds, dated January 24, 2025 to Hon. David Umahi, the Honourable Minister of Works, requesting the following clarifications:
Detailed reactions to the allegations of various payments made in a single day to 13 inactive companies;
Evidence of procurement procedures being followed, and evidence of annual returns of the said companies; and
Clarification/information regarding the payments allegedly made to the attached companies as well as justification for a staff of the Ministry operating a functional company and also a signatory to the account of one of the companies in question.
But despite the fact that the letter was duly received by the Office of the Honourable Minister himself on January 27, no response was received until the filling of this report, just like in the case of the initial letter to the Borno State controller. This is even as efforts made to reach the minister and his media aid proved abortive.
According to a public affairs commentator, Momte Bulus, “the major problem we have today is the brazen level of impunity expressed by public office holders who feel they are above the law. Most unfortunately, any of these persons involved in graft will tell you openly to report to anyone you want and that nothing will happen to them. I really dont know how we descended into this low sink of depravity in Nigeria.”
Another respondent, Timilehin Babatunde said: The reason why we have laws and punishment for offences is so as to serve as a deterrent for others. But when you discover that people no longer have any fear of the punishment to follow their criminal actions either due to the absence or feebleness of the punishment, then crime and criminality will become the order of the day. That is why you can see the level of impunity being freely expressed by our politicians and other public office holders, mostly because they know that the possibility of their getting away with their actions is very high. We are in a very precarious situation in our dear country.
