EFCC probes abandoned N14bn Asaba-Onitsha road project

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced an investigation into the alleged abandonment of an 11-kilometre section of the Summit Junction-Asaba-Onitsha Head Bridge Road in Delta State, after about N14bn was reportedly paid to the contractor.

A top official of the EFCC confirmed the development to our correspondent on Monday, saying investigators had visited the project site to establish the state of the project.

“A serious investigation has commenced on the matter. Our crack investigators had been there to verify what is happening. I can’t disclose more than that because the investigation is still at an early stage,” the official said.

The investigation followed a petition by an activist and Publisher of The Common Good Letter, Rev David Ugolor, urging the anti-graft agency to investigate allegations surrounding the award, funding, execution and supervision of the road project.

The petition came after the Minister of Works, David Umahi, on August 28, raised concerns over the contractor’s alleged failure to deliver the road despite receiving about N14bn.

Umahi, during an inspection of road infrastructure along the Agbor-Asaba-Onitsha corridor in Delta State in August, reportedly expressed displeasure that Hartland Nigeria Limited had completed only about 40 per cent of the project.

The minister also threatened to call for the arrest of the company’s Managing Director and called for scrutiny of certificates issued in connection with the project as well as the recovery of public funds where necessary.

Ugolor, in his petition, said the EFCC investigation was necessary to subject the minister’s public allegations to an independent and legally sustainable process.

“I write in my capacity as Publisher of The Common Good Letter to request an urgent, independent and coordinated investigation into serious allegations concerning the award, financing, execution and supervision of the approximately 11-kilometre road project extending from Summit Junction in Asaba, Delta State, to the Onitsha Head Bridge,” he stated.

According to him, the petition was not intended to presume the guilt of the contractor or any public official, but to enable the relevant authorities to establish the facts.

“These statements raise substantial public-interest questions that should not be resolved through public declarations alone. They require a professional investigation based on contracts, procurement records, payment documents, engineering measurements, bank guarantees and evidence obtained from all affected parties,” Ugolor said.

He added, “This petition does not allege that Hartland Nigeria Limited, its directors, any public officer, bank, consultant or other person has committed an offence. It asks the competent authorities to determine the facts and take lawful action where the evidence establishes wrongdoing.”

Ugolor urged the EFCC and other relevant agencies to establish the identity and reference number of the contract awarded to Hartland Nigeria Limited, the date of the original award, the procuring entity, approving authority, procurement method and original contract sum.

He also asked the agency to verify the precise scope of work covered by the contract, including the road sections, channelisation, drainage and hydraulic structures.

The petitioner further urged the EFCC to determine whether the contractor met the technical, financial, personnel and equipment requirements for the project and to scrutinise payments made in connection with the contract.

Ugolor said the investigation should also establish why the 11-kilometre project had not been completed as scheduled and determine whether any individual or entity should be held liable based on evidence obtained during the probe.

The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report.