The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into an alleged contract fraud involving more than ₦100bn in Benue State.
A senior EFCC official in the zone confirmed the investigation to journalists in Makurdi, saying preliminary findings suggested that the amount involved was already above ₦100bn and could increase if more contracts come under scrutiny.
The official, however, dismissed reports that the alleged fraud exceeded ₦200bn, explaining that investigators had yet to establish the exact figure.
According to the source, more than 60 contractors have been identified in connection with the alleged scheme and are being invited to provide information to investigators.
At the centre of the investigation is Mr Lawrence Kyuka, who reportedly presented himself as a facilitator between the state government and contractors.
He is accused of collecting millions of naira from contractors under the guise of helping them secure government-backed contracts for the construction of technical colleges across the state.
The EFCC source alleged that contractors were asked to pay one per cent of their purported contract values as processing or vetting fees.
Several serving and former government officials are also under investigation over their alleged roles in the transactions.
They include the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, Reverend Frederick Ikyaan, who was Commissioner for Education when the alleged transactions began; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Yangien Ornguga; the current Commissioner for Education, Mrs Margaret Adamu; and the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Helen Nambativ.
Efforts to reach Ornguga and Ikyaan for comments were unsuccessful.
The EFCC source said investigators had established that although the Benue State Government approved plans to establish additional technical colleges, the specific contracts under investigation had not received approval from Governor Hyacinth Alia or the State Executive Council.
The source further alleged that contractors were encouraged to make the one per cent payments after receiving bank account details reportedly supplied through the Office of the Attorney-General.
Investigators are examining a letter allegedly signed by Ornguga containing the account details to determine the circumstances surrounding its issuance and the payments that followed.
Kyuka reportedly strengthened the contractors’ confidence by claiming to have close access to Governor Alia and assuring them that the projects would be approved and payments made after completion.
Relying on these assurances, several contractors allegedly mobilised workers and equipment to their respective sites and began construction using their personal funds, expecting the government to reimburse them.
However, problems reportedly emerged when the contractors struggled to secure payment for the work carried out. Their complaints eventually attracted the attention of the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC source confirmed that four government officials and other individuals connected to the transactions had been questioned as investigators worked to establish their respective roles and determine whether proper administrative procedures were followed.
The commission is also examining the financial losses suffered by the contractors and the circumstances under which they were persuaded to undertake the projects.
The EFCC stressed that the investigation was still ongoing and that no final conclusions had been reached on the allegations or the culpability of those mentioned.
