Senate probes CCB over N8bn contract scam

The Senate on Tuesday ordered a comprehensive investigation on the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over allegation of dumping its N8billion permanent site for the purchase of a  nine-storey building in Abuja worth N4 billion.

Senate therefore mandate its committees on FCT, Public Petition and Procurement as well as Ethics and Privileges to investigate the veracity of the allegation levelled against the anti-graft agency.

The decision of the Senate followed a Point of Order from the Chairman Senate Committee on FCT, Dino Melaye who drew the upper chamber’s attention to what he maintained “undermines the law of the country and breed corruption”.

He alleged misappropriation and abuse of due processes in two separate contracts amounting to N8 billion and N4.4 billion each for the purpose of building and acquiring permanent official residence for the Bureau.

He said that the Bureau later abandoned the N8billion project after it had spent N1.470 billion, to initiate the process of procuring another N4.4 billion project.

He said: “The Senate is invited to note  that the Code of Conduct Bureau, after spending over N1 billion on the construction of the office complex headquarters with complete approval by the FCDA, with design by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and supervision ongoing by the FCT, has opted to purchase a completed nine storey building located in the Central Business District of Abuja just as the abandoned one is also located in the same Business District.

“The Bureau apart from the ongoing construction project of the headquarters, which was evaluated and awarded in the sum of N3,509,327,405, out of which a total sum of N1,407,263,884, so far, representing 16% of the contract sum has been paid while the cumulative job done as at to date is estimated at 10percent”.

He said it was worrisome that the action of the CCB in the whole exercise is not expected of an institution that is supposed to protect and watch over the finance of the society by checking corrupt practices in the Nigeria public service.

Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session prevented senators from debating the motion, explaining that debate on the issue could amount to pre-empting the report of the committee.

The committee is expected to report back in two weeks.