Alleged Public Procurement Violation: Human Rights Lawyer drags Aviation Minister, DG BPP to ICPC
By Tobi Adetunji
A renowned Human Rights Lawyer, Barr. Benjamin Barnes Arekameh, Esq. has dragged the duo of Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika, and the Director General the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr. Mamman Ahmadu to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for allegedly violating the Procurement ACT.
In a complaint letter addressed to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) dated 1/03/2023, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent on Wednesday.
Barr. Benjamin Barnes Arekameh, alleged that the minister for Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika, and one Mr. Mamman Ahadu, allegedly try to usurp the office of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN), by awarding Cleaning and Janitorial Services, contracts to Scot William and other seven cleaning and Janitorial services in violation of the Public Procurement Act.
The human Rights lawyer, who wrote on behalf of his client, one MR. FRANK OLU OJO. was dismayed and raised concerns that despite President Muhammadu Buhari dogged and relentless effort to bring sanctity to the nation, through his anti-corruption fight, foreigner and the citizens of the country had normalized corrupt practices and unashamedly prioritizes abuse of the law.
He further sighted Section 4 (a) of Public Procurement Act, 2007 and alluded to a sanction recently placed by the World Bank, on AIM Consultants Limited, a Nigerian Consultancy Company, and its Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Amin Moussalli, for alleged corrupt practices.
According to him, “There is no gain saying the fact that Senator Hadi Sirika, allegedly working in concert with Mr. Mamman Ahadu, awarded Cleaning and Janitorial Services, contracts to the following companies, namely: Scot Williams, Ama Technical and Universal Contractors Ltd, Earth Dreams Engineering and Contractors, Atlanta Cleaner Nig. Ltd, Agbofirm Consultants Ltd, Lenora Ventures, Fortune Works Nig. Ltd, Cleaningful Nig. Ltd, Klean Solution Ltd, Seriyat Global Concepts et-cetera, for the Cleaning and Janitorial Services of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), thereby usurped the office / power of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu, and by implication, the purported Cleaning and Janitorial Services, contracts did not comply with the Public Procurement Act, 2007,”
He further alleged that Minister of Aviation and his allies, Hon. Farouk Adamu Aliyu, a businessman, and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Scot Williams Nigeria Limited and the Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, Cleaningful Nig. Ltd, whose name was being sought for.
The letter further reads, “More importantly, Senator Hadi Sirika, allegedly awarded the purported Cleaning and Janitorial Services, contracts to the above mentioned companies wherein he allegedly has business interest and to his friends, business and political associates such as his allies, Hon. Farouk Adamu Aliyu, a businessman, Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Scot Williams Nigeria Limited and the Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, Cleaningful Nig. Ltd, whose name was being sought for or not known to us as at the time of writing this complaint.”
“It is against the backdrop that prompted the writing of this complaint.”
He charged the Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a discrete inquiry into the matter and charged President Muhammadu Buhari to painstakingly look into the matter.
You may recall that last week, this newspaper reports the case of alleged violation of public Procurement regarding the award of contract to Cleaning and Janitorial services, in which all effort to get reaction from concerned parties was abortive.
