The Peoples Coalition Against Corruption, an anti-graft group, has urged the federal government and anti-corruption agencies to investigate Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state.
According to Sahara Reporters, the group in a statement signed by Peter Iloagbeze accused the governor as massive theft spanning five years. Wike was accused of diversion of resources from the Tetfund; the swindling of over N100billion Universal Basic Education Fund, as well as conversion and diversion over N20billion of the Ministry of Education budgets in four years while he was serving as the minister of state for education and later acting minister of education.
The group urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and other security agencies to investigate agencies and public servants that were colluding to defraud Rivers state and Nigeria.
The group alleged that as minister of state for education between 2012 and 2015, he awarded to himself through his companies and cronies several contracts which he did not execute but received full payment.
“For instance, on the 28th day of June 2012, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under the hand of Engr. E. Eshett awarded the CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF RUMUEPIRIKOM INTERNAL ROADS (PHASE 1 & 2), OBIO/AKPO to CICO INDUSTRIES LTD for the sum of #2,673,121,782.24 (Two Billion, Six Hundred and Seventy-Three Million, One Hundred and Twenty-One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Two Naira and Twenty-Four Kobo),” it said. “Beside the fact that CICO INDUSTRIES LTD, is not a Civil Engineering company they were awarded with the contract for the construction of Rumueprikom Internal Roads and have been fully paid by NDDC, using his crony Hon. Henry Ogiri.”
The job was however not done according to the statement.
“Instead, in 2015, upon emergence as the Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, knowing that the same road had been awarded to him through MESSER CICO INDUSTRIES LTD for which he had been paid did without any form of compliance with the Rivers State Procurement Law and in other to cover his criminal act and intention, surreptitiously awarded the same RUMUEPRIKOM INTERNAL ROADS to RENNIER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY (RCC) for even a high amount than the pricing of the NDDC.”
The group said its investigation revealed that Wike compelled the company to do the job for N2billion less than the amount shown on government record.
“The investigation also revealed that the company was cajoled to do the job as a condition for them to receive payment for their Trans Amadi – Woji – Elelenwo – Akpajo Road awarded to them by the past administration in the State. As it stands on records today, NDDC has Rumueprikom Internal Road awarded to CICO (WIKE) in 2012 for over N2.6billion; RVSG has the same road awarded to RCC and another company (both for WIKE) in 2015 for over N3.4billion.”
The group claimed that less than 35 per cent of the job has been done in spite of the heavy amount swindled from Rivers and Nigeria treasury.