DSS’ investigation indicts Sijuwade on manipulation of N47.88bn railway contracts

Official of Department of State Security (DSS) on Thursday affirmed that Seyi Sijuwade, the immediate past managing director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), was indicted of manipulating contracts worth over N47.886 billion on the Eastern line (Port Harcourt to Kaduna).

This was contained in a letter signed by Tunde Aderiye, DSS director-general and dated November 5, 2010, and read by Johnson Agbonayinma, chairman of the Adhoc Committee, to stakeholders that attended the investigative public hearing.

Bassey Etting, DSS official, who testified before the Adhoc Committee investigating the railway contract between 2010 and 2014, also affirmed that the recommendation was contained in the separate letters sent to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), National Security Adviser (NSA) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further prosecution.

While responding to questions from the chairman of the Adhoc Committee, Etting affirmed that similar fraud was observed in the Kafancha-Maiduguri rail project.

On his part, Ike Okonjo, EFCC representative, however said the EFCC chairman only assigned him to observe the proceedings of the investigative hearing.

In his presentation, Ibrahim Bio, former minister of transport, said during his stay in office (from December 18, 2008 to March 17, 2010), there was more of politicking than governance.

Bio informed the committee that he only signed only one contract during his tenure – rail line from Kaduna to Abuja, adding that the contract was worth $843 million.

The former minister disclosed that there was no activity in the ministry in 2010, as the budget of the ministry was not passed before the death of President Musa Yar’Adua.

On his part Mr Jackie, CCECC general manager, explained that the company handled three projects for NRC and another three projects for Federal Ministry of Transport.

He explained that the contract for the two locomotives for which 30 percent mobilisation was paid would be delivered by September 2016, if the Federal Government made necessary payment.

Jackie also explained that the Lagos-Jebba rail project for which 100 percent payment was made had been delivered since 2013 and flagged off by the immediate past administration.

He however noted that paucity of fund stalled the other projects including: Lagos-Ibadan being handled by the company, and denied having interest in any of the contractor to the NRC, either as a director or shareholder.

Speaking earlier, Fidet Okhirca, NRC acting managing director, pleaded with the committee to give the contractors more time to appear.

He admitted that it was difficult for him to force them to come, especially now that they were no longer handling any project for them.

While ruling on resolutions passed by the adhoc committee, Agbonayinma threatened to issue a bench warrant on 13 contractors (out of the 27 contractors invited) that failed to appear before it in relation to the ongoing investigation.

Upon resumption of hearing on Thursday by the committee, only seven firms were properly represented out of the 23 contractors used by the NRC in executing the different contracts.

He said: “There is no reason why these contractors should not be here. Only seven companies are properly represented, while the 13 others are not here. This is unacceptable.

“The former managing director of NRC promised to produce the contractors and you (acting MD) were there when this promise was made. They are holding us back in doing our job. These are contractors you gave job, I think we will issue a bench warrant on these contractors. We will not accept this any more.”

The chairman explained that the ad hoc committee was set up to probe the contract awarded from 2010 and 2014 by the NRC, stressing that the essence of the investigative hearing was to ensure that the process of the award of contracts met guidelines as stipulated in the Public Procurement Act.

He also hinted that the probe would unravel if such contracts were really awarded as well as ascertain how taxpayers money were utilised in the contracts.

The adhoc committee explained that they wrote to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF to appear before it, but rather said they got a reply that was not cheering.

“We got a reply letter from the SGF and the content of that letter was not suitable to us. Nobody is above the law. All of us are working for the betterment of this country,” Agbonayinman noted.