...by Inter-Bau Construction Nigeria Ltd, NDDC, says the information provided by NDDC, other shows they supplied false report

A Lagos-Based Lawyer, Anthony Iyasele has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Presidency to probe Inter-Bau Construction Nigeria Limited and all relevant persons over alleged diversion, misappropriation and total abandonment of the construction of Oloa-Ossissa/Atu-Okpai/Osume/Abala-Uno Road and Bridge in Ndokwa-East Local Government Area of Delta State after the sum of five hundred ninety-nine million six hundred and ninety-one thousand and sixteen Naira seventy-two Kobo(N599,691,016.72.) been the contract mobilization and representing 15% of the contract sum was paid to the contractor, Inter-Bau Construction Nigeria Limited after the award of the contract in 2012.

ASKLEGALPALACE reported that Hon. Justice P. I. Ajoku, on Monday, February 21, 2022, in Suit No: FHC/PH/MISC./114/2021 gave a judgment in favour of Iyasele, against Niger Delta Development Commission.

Iyasele, instituted an action under the Freedom of Information Act seeking amongst other things that the NDDC provide him with information regarding the abandoned construction of Oloa-Ossissa/Okpai/Abala-Uno Road and bridge in Ndokwa-East Local Government Area of Delta State which said information has been provided by the NDDC.

According to a copy of the petition made available to TheNigerialawyer, the contract was awarded in April 2012 to Messrs Inter-Bau Construction Nigeria Limited, with the reference No: NDDC/EDP/DEL/PR/012/005.

The petition reads: “It is an undisputed fact that the inhabitants of Oloa Ossissa, Abala-Uno and other communities within the area are mostly farmers whose livelihood is dependent on the earnings made from the sale of their farm produce which they have to transport to markets in urban areas such as Asaba, Onitsha and Kwale but unfortunately this has become an herculean task as the road is in a very bad shape and it is virtually unpassable during the rainy season and these farm produce are left to rot.

“Messrs Inter-Bau Construction Nigeria Limited (hereinafter referred to as “the contractor”) has in no small measure deepened the poverty of our people by its deliberate abandonment of this very laudable road project after receiving 15% mobilization. The health implication of having to travel on this very bad road cannot be over emphasized especially for our pregnant women. I am aware that one of the cardinal agendas of this government is the enlargement of agricultural output for food security and the expansion of transport infrastructure which has no doubt been thwarted by the diversion, misappropriation and total abandonment of the construction of Oloa Ossissa/Atu Okpai/Osume/Abala Uno road and bridge by the contractor.

“For members of these communities who live and do business outside, going home has become an herculean task as the road is not motorable particularly during the rainy season and those who dare to put their cars on the road always end up having their cars damaged and this would have not been the case if the contractor had executed the contract and constructed the road and bridge.

“A perusal of the information from the NDDC will show that a whopping sum of N599,691,016.72 (five hundred and ninety nine million six hundred and ninety one thousand sixteen Naira seventy two Kobo) representing 15% of the contract sum has been disbursed to the contractor by the NDDC but sadly there is nothing to show for the sum collected and communities that would have benefitted from the project have continued to suffer hardship, misery, pain and horror.

“A further perusal of the information as provided by the NDDC will show that the Consultant to the project, Zeacon Nigeria Limited in its Performance Evaluation Report falsely and negligently reported in May and October 2014 that permanent work was executed on the project while NDDC on its part, falsely and negligently reported that the project is ongoing and that the percentage completion is 14% while in actual fact, there is virtually nothing on ground to justify the 15% mobilisation collected by the contractor which only compels one to draw a reasonable conclusion that there was collusion between all the relevant parties to divert, misappropriate and abandon the project.

“I therefore implore you to use your good offices to assist our people and investigate this matter whilst ensuring that the contractor is brought back to site to justify the 15% mobilisation that was received from the NDDC and proceed to complete the project before May 29, 2023 when this government will be leaving office.”