The Senate has called on relevant agencies of government to embark on further investigation as to why contract benefitting companies paid over N500 million to Rholavision Engineering Limited, a company in which the suspended Secretary to Government of Federation Engr. Babachir David Lawal has interest.
Also, the Senate submitted that the suspended Secretary to Government of Federation Engr. Babachir David Lawal contravened the provision of part 1 of the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, the Public Procurement Act 2007 and breached the oaths of Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation and should be disciplined by the relevant authorities.
This disclosed on Wednesday as the Senate asked the President Muhammadu Buhari to retrieve all resources stolen or misapplied by public official and anybody found culpable of contravening any of the provisions of the public procurement Act, 2007 and the Federal Government Financial Rules and Regulations pertaining to the award of contracts for Humanitarian Intervention in North East.
The upper chamber of the National Assembly also urged relevant agencies to ensure that contracts partially executed but fully paid for must be completed by the concerned contractors or they be asked to refund the equivalent money of outstanding jobs to the government.
These were some of the recommendations in the final report submitted by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East. Presenting the report chairman of the committee, Senator Shehu Sani expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Senate and all Senators for the confidence reposed on the committee to serve in the capacity.
Reacting to the report , Senate Deputy Majority Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah said the all the stolen money must be recovered including part of it that used to sponsor protest against the National Assembly.
Senator George Sekibo added that President Muhammadu Buhari has good intentions for the country but there are rats inside the presidency eating up the good intentions of the President. He called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission to swing into action on the fraud committed in the award of contracts for Humanitarian Intervention in North East. Sekibo added that the Senate has already blown the whistle on the matter and Nigerians are waiting to see action.
In his remark the Senate President Bukola Saraki congratulated members of the committee and commended the quality of the report. He said from the facts presented, it is clearly that something was wrong. Saraki added that the report is not only about the suspended SGF as there are other people in the various agencies involved that aided the corruption.
