TheNewsGuru

Tag: Contractor

  • Pipelines surveillance contracts : Eyesan under heavy attack over alleged secret deals with Olu of Warri

    Pipelines surveillance contracts : Eyesan under heavy attack over alleged secret deals with Olu of Warri

    The Niger Delta for Truth and Justices (NDTJ) has accused the management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company limited ( NNPCL) of ethnic bias in the award of pipelines surveillance contracts in the oil bearing region.

    The group in a protest letter signed by national president Chief Ejiroghene Mariere to the management of NNPCL in Abuja, alleged that its vice President in charge of upstream Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan was behind the deal to increase the scope of job to be awarded to Pipelines Infrastructures Nigeria limited (PINL), a company believed to be floated by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase 111.

    The NDTJ hinged their protest on the abysmal failure of PINL in the past that led to the withdrawal of some of its contracts and given to other group of companies.

    They recalled that it was the failure of PINL to protect oil facilities, especially the Trans-Forcados Pipelines and others in Delta state that led to the initial withdrawal of some its slots and subsequently re-awarded to Industrial -Wide Security.

    According to them ” If the PINL was doing well, some of its jobs would not be withdrawn . There have been too much of oil theft, pipelines vandalism leading to low oil production in the areas under the surveillance of PINL.

    No fewer than 112 incidents of crude oil theft in the areas under the supervision of PINL was reported last year .

    They stated: ” The PINL was not performing. Oil bunkering was the order of the day, whenever it’s in charge. And now the Vice president upstream is planning to give the company more areas to cover despite the abysmal performance.

    “The Vice president upstream is playing ethic politics with national resources at the detriment of national interest”. How do you reward failure with more jobs just because the vice-president of NNPCL is a subject of the owner of the company?”

    They therefore wondered why a non performing company would be rewarded with a bigger jobs if not for ethic consideration .

    The Vice president upstream Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan is an Itsekiri like her Warri Monarch Ogiame Atuwase 111.

    The protesters therefore requested the President to wade in to halt the proposed extension and increase in the scope of contract to PINL as the move is capable of inflaming anger that may snow ball into another ethic crisis .

    They recalled that the attacks on oil facilities in Rivers and Imo states where PINL was in charge and feared that such harrowing experience may reoccur if urgent steps are not taking.

    According to NDTJ ” it is curious that despite the glaring evidence of poor performance, the NNPCL is considering increasing the scope of jobs to PINL

    “This ethnic favouritism was what led to the Warri crisis of 2001 and 2002. This must be avoided this time around .

    CHIEF EJIROGHENE MARIERE JP
    NATIONAL PRESIDENT
    NIGER DELTA FOR TRUTH & JUSTICES,
    PORT HARCOURT,
    RIVERS STATE.
    JANUARY 23, 2024.

  • Court stops NSCDC CG, others from harassing contractor over executed project

    Court stops NSCDC CG, others from harassing contractor over executed project

    A Federal Capital Territory High Court, Nyanya, on Thursday, restrained the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), its Commander-General (C-G), Mr Ahmed Audi, and others from further harassing a contractor, Mr Christian Igbo, over a completed contract.

    Justice Edward Okpe, in a judgment, also ordered the security agency to pay Igbo over N29 million balance of the contract sum legitimately awarded and executed by him.

    The applicant had, in an originating motion on notice marked: CV/2115/2023 and filed by Pascal Obioha, sued the NSCDC, the C-G, ACG Fabian Ejezie (Finance) and Mpamugo Ifeanyi Bartholomew as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    Igbo also joined Victor Olarenwaju, Pastor Kukuyi (Accountant General Staff in Charge of CPO), Nd Chukwuemeka Okeke as 5th to 7th defendants in the suit dated and filed Jan. 24.

    Delivering the judgment, Justice Okpe held that where an application was not controverted by a party, averments therein would be deemed to have been admitted by the party.

    “The respondents ganged up to deprive and frustrate the applicant from getting the balance of the contract sum which he has excellently and dully executed unless the said part-payment is withdrawn and shared amongst them,” he added.

    The judge consequently granted reliefs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the applicant

    The applicant, a businessman and managing director of Davenchris Ventures LTD, IB-Technicals LTD and Chrisreubben Enterprises, sought seven reliefs which include an order to enforce his fundamental human rights of freedom, personal liberty, fair hearing and human dignity as guaranteed by Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution.

    He sought for a declaration that the continuous threat to life, attempt to arrest and detain him
    under the instructions of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th respondents who are staff, officials and/or agent of the 1st and 2nd respondents on a purely civil transaction of award and execution of contract, is illegal, unconstitutional.

    He also said that it was against the provisions of Chapter IV, 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act. Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and is therefore Illegal, ultra-vires and unconstitutional.

    He sought for an order directing the respondents to pay him the balance of the contract sum legitimately awarded and executed by the applicant for the 1st and 2md respondents totaling N29. 3million  without any unlawful interference and the use of undue influence to frustrate the payment of the said money to the applicant by the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and the 7tj respondents.

    “An order of perpetual injunction, restraining all the respondents from further threat to life; attempt to arrest, detain, intimidate the applicant and/or his family members either by themselves or by any enforcement agent and/or intruding on the applicant’s privacy or business premises.”

    He also sought a damages of N200 million severally and jointly paid by the respondents for the unlawful threat to his life, among others.

    Giving the grounds why his reliefs should be granted, Igbo averred that he executed the said contracts and the respondents paid part-payment of the contract sum into his companies accounts amounting to over N23 million (N23,887,154.89), remaining the balance of N29,360,697.00

    “At the receipt of the said part-payment of the contract sum, the applicant started receiving threating calls from the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th respondents who are the officials of the 1st and 2nd respondents that the money that was paid into his accounts should be withdrawn and be brought to the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th respondents for sharing on no justifiable and/or cogent reasons.

    “The applicant, amidst entreaties, threats, attempts to arrest, detain him stood his ground for explanations why part-payment that entered into his companies account owed him for the executed contracts in favour of his companies should be withdrawn and be given to them for sharing,” he said.

    Igbo said the officers insisted on their unlawful and unwarranted demands from him.

    Although the respondents were represented in court by Evelyn Charles-Fyanya, they did not file any counter affidavit.

    “It is my candid views to grant the reliefs, more especially where there is no counter affidavit filed,” he said, saying such was the law.

  • Serving Abuja LG chairman arraigned for allegedly receiving N10m bribe from contractor

    Serving Abuja LG chairman arraigned for allegedly receiving N10m bribe from contractor

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Adamu Danze, for allegedly receiving N10 million kickback from a contractor handling construction projects in the area council.

    Danze was arraigned by the Commission before Justice U. P. Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 4 on allegations of corruption bordering on abuse of office and gratification.

    ICPC had filed six counts before the court in which it accused the council chairman of demanding and receiving N10 million bribe from the Director of Remotosh Construction Limited, Aremu Omotosho, in exchange for approving payment for the construction of a double-cell culvert in Paiko-Kore.

    The local council boss was alleged to have committed the offence in March 2018 when he directed the contractor to transfer the money to his lawyer handling his election tribunal case, thereby violating Sections 8 (1)(a), 10 (a)(i), 18 (b) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    One of the charges read, “That you, Adamu Mustapha Danze on or about the month of March 2018 at Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, while being a public officer as the Executive Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council received the sum of N10 million from Engineer Aremu Omotosho, the director of Remotosh Construction Limited for approving payment for the construction of double cell culvert at Paiko-Kore awarded to Remotosh Construction Limited by Gwagwalada Area Council, the sum you asked the contractor to transfer to your counsel defending you in the election tribunal and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10 (a)(i) and punishable under Section 10 (a)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

    Danze, who had a bench warrant issued on him, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him while the warrant was subsequently dismissed by the trial judge after a plea by the defence Counsel, Abdul Mohammed.

    Mohammed, in his remarks, apologised to the judge for failing to attend proceedings on two previous dates fixed by the court, saying it was due to the recent kidnapping activities in Gwagwalada.

    He also informed the court that the defendant was coordinating rescue operations in the area council, and moved a motion praying that the accused be admitted to bail at the discretion of the court pending trial.

    Counsel to ICPC, Michael Adesola, in his counter-argument, averred that the accused was very deliberate in his actions of ignoring court sittings as he was duly served all proceedings since last year.

    Adesola, who also opposed the bail application, prayed the court to remand the accused in a correctional facility to prevent him from interfering and intimidating witnesses, some of whom were employees in the area council.

    Justice Kekemeke, having listened to both counsels, held that the defendant cannot jump bail based on his current position.

    “The defendant who is the current Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council cannot evade his trial,” he held. “He has nowhere to hide as I give him the benefit of doubt. The application therefore subsists. Bail is therefore granted to the defendant.”

    Danze was admitted to bail in the sum of N20 million and a surety in like sum while the case was adjourned until March 1, 2022, for trial.

  • ICPC orders contractor who abandoned N35m constituency project back to site in Akure

    ICPC orders contractor who abandoned N35m constituency project back to site in Akure

    The Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has ordered the contractor handling N35 million Reconstruction and Completion of Civic Centre at Akure North/South Federal Constituency to return to site.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Mr David Oluwole, Head, Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Division, ICPC, gave the directive on Wednesday during an on site tracking of the third phase of Constituency and Executive Project Tracking in Ondo State.

     

    Oluwole, who led officials of ICPC and others to the project site in Akure South Local Government, said the contractor needed to effect correction on various structural defects, hence the directive.

     

    According to him, the project, which has been awarded since 2019, is now abandoned, so it is imperative that the contractor, Jubac Investment Co. Ltd, returns to site to properly execute the project.

     

    Similarly, an expert on the team, said the project was poorly executed mainly on the columns and the facial parapet walls, while there were lots of perforations.

     

    According to him, the perforations show that the concrete is not well mixed, and not well-packed, while the exposed reinforcement bars shows under-reinforcement.

     

    “The expected reinforcement bar is not used. The results are seen with the bent columns and uneven sizes which are not aligned.

     

    “The site is clearly, already abandoned as there is no evidence of work for months. This job is believed to be supervised by unqualified engineers.

     

    “My recommendation is for the project to be taken from these particular contractors, or the contractor needs to return to site, demolish the upper part of the building and reconstruct with quality materials,” he said.

     

    Other project tracked included provision of plastic furniture to Anglican Grammar School, Ero Town, in Ifedore Local Government, awarded in 2019 for N2.4 million.

     

    Another project tracked was the training of 27 selected secondary students in Yoruba culture, awarded in July 2020 for 23 million, also in Ero Town, Ifedore Local Government Area.

     

    TNG gathered that the ICPC team, however, was unable to track the Construction of Bridge at Owobambo in Odigbo Local Government Area, awarded for N31.6 million, due to inaccessible roads.

     

    TNG reports that no fewer than 1,024 constituency and executive projects were to be tracked in 18 states by ICPC under the third phase of Constituency and Executive Project Tracking.

  • NDDC Forensic Audit Report: 12,128 abandoned projects untraceable to any contractor

    NDDC Forensic Audit Report: 12,128 abandoned projects untraceable to any contractor

    After almost two years, the forensic audit report of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC was submitted on Tuesday as it reveals that 12,128
    abandoned projects could not be traced to any contractor.
    In a bid to uncover the massive infractions in the interventionist agency, President Muhammdu Buhari had directed the supervisory ministry to conduct the forensic audit of the NDDC projects since it was created in year 2000.
    Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godswill Akpabio, moments after receiving the audit report, assured that President Muhamamadu Buhari will act swiftly on the document.
    He said the government will study the final report to point out salient areas that will guide the president in taking further action.
    This is coming few days after expiration of the July ending dateline earlier announced by the Minister for the submission of the forensic report.
    The Minister maintained that the report would definitely be a turning point for the Niger Delta region, adding that it will enhance the socio-economic status of the region.
    Akpabio also expressed gratitude for the timely completion of the Forensic audit report, which would be submitted to the President, adding the security team exhibited high level of discipline, candour and brilliant comportment knowing that the exercise would not be successful without security assistance.
    The Minister reiterated Buhari’s directive for a holistic examination and review of the operations of the NDDC, which culminated in the inauguration of forensic auditor and subsequently the security team for the forensic auditors to salvage NDDC and the entire Niger Delta region.

  • Niger gov orders contractors back to site, says life must go on despite COVID-19

    The Niger State Government has directed all contractors handling various projects to return to sites amidst the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

    Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger, gave the directive when he inspected some road projects under construction in Minna, the state capital.

    According to Bello, life can not be put on hold because of the spread of the Coronavirus.

    “Normal life activities have to continue as it is not definite when the pandemic will be over, therefore, the government has moved on,” he said.

    He called on those handling the various projects to observe all the precautionary measures put in place to avoid contracting and spreading the virus.

    The governor, however, expressed satisfaction with the level of work ongoing, noting that more pressure would be put on the contractors to complete their work before the rains set in.

    He noted that any contractor found to be defaulting for not executing a project within the stipulated time would have their contract terminated.

    However, among the projects inspected were Moris and Tunga low-cost 4-kilometer township road reconstruction projects awarded in 2017 with 14 months completion period at the cost of N2.4 billion.

    Other projects inspected were the ongoing road construction at Morris fertilizer Area and Tunga Low-Cost
    Road.

  • COVID-19 Palliatives: FG sacks two contractors for delaying cash disbursement in four states

    COVID-19 Palliatives: FG sacks two contractors for delaying cash disbursement in four states

    The Federal Government has terminated the contracts of two Payment Service Providers (PSP) for failure to meet up with the contractual agreement to commence Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) to beneficiaries in four states.

    The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Salisu Dambatta.

    The minister said the termination was with immediate effect.

    The statement said the termination was in line with the World Bank procurement guidelines to ensure that payments commenced in the affected states on or before April 28.

    It listed the affected states as Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom in the South South region, Abia in the South East, and Zamfara in the North West.

    The statement revealed that the PSP whose contracts were terminated were, Data Mining Company and Innovative NIPOST.

    “The Federal Government cannot accept delays in the current payment round of N20,000 stipends to beneficiaries in poor and vulnerable households under any excuse in the four states or any other state of the federation.

    “The failure of any payment service providers to meet their contractual agreement is unacceptable.

    “The Federal Government through the Ministry cannot allow contractors to derail the immediate CCT to the poor and the vulnerable,” it explained.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari, during his first national broadcast announced the payment as a measure to cushion the effect of the coronavirus lockdowns in the country on poor and vulnerable households.

  • 2 contractors killed, 2 wounded at oil refinery

    2 contractors killed, 2 wounded at oil refinery

    SASREF, a Saudi oil refinery owned by the state energy giant Aramco, on Tuesday said that two contractors were killed and two others wounded in an “operational incident.”

    The company said in a statement that the incident occurred on a vessel in the eastern city of al-Jubail while the contractors were working on the unit on Sunday night.

    It did not disclose any details about the nature of the incident or the nationality of the casualties.

    It said that all safety measures will be revised in order to prevent such incidents in the future.

  • I am not a government contractor : Tinubu

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Saturday said he was neither a government contractor nor a work with any government parastatal.

    Tinubu made the remark during an interactive session with the newsmen after he voted at his Unit 047, Ward 3, Ikeja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu arrived at his polling unit around 11:20am and voted accordingly.

    He said that there was no iota of truth in an online video in circulation claiming that he had bullion vans in his house distributing money.

    “I am not a government contractor, and I don’t have bullion vans because I don’t store ballot papers. If I may ask, where am I voting now? This is not my house.

    “I don’t work with any government agencies and let anybody come out to say that I have taken contracts from the government of President Buhari in the last four years.

    “They should prove it. I am on my own and committed to my party. Even if I have the money to spend in my premises, what is anybody’s headache since I don’t run the government.

    “I can spend my money as I like and if I want; if it pleases me I can give it to the people free of charge as long as it is not meant to buy votes.

    “I want to ask, who are those watching my house to see what I am doing? They must be mischievous, they are liars,” he said.