Senate goes for CCT again, probes alleged contract scam

The Senate on Tuesday, ordered a comprehensive investigation into allegations of contract scam in the Code of Conduct Bureau.

The Senate adopted a motion sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye, which frowned at alleged misappropriation and abuse of due processes in two separate contracts. The two contracts amount to N8 billion and N4.4 billion respectively.

It was for the purpose of building and acquiring permanent official residence for the CCB.

On Tuesday, the Senate directed its committees on Procurement; Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, as well as the committee on Federal Capital Territory to conduct the investigation and report back to it within two weeks.

It will be recalled that the Senate had only recently moved to transfer the power of the President in controlling the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Code of Conduct Tribunal Act (CCT) and appropriated same to itself.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki is currently being tried at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for alleged false assets declaration while he was governor of Kwara State.

Presenting his motion earlier, Senator Melaye alleged that the CCB gave an approval for the revised contract sum for construction of one block of nine-storey building from the originally valued sum of N3.5 billion to N8.7 billion.

He said the Bureau later abandoned the N8 billion project after it had spent about N1.470 billion on it to initiate the process of procuring another one of N4.4 billion.

He said:”The Senate is invited to note that the Code of Conduct Bureau, after spending over N1 billion on the construction of the office complex headquarters with complete approval by the FCDA, with design by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and supervision ongoing by the FCT, has opted to purchase a completed nine storey building located in the Central Business District of Abuja just as the abandoned one is also located in the same Business District.

“The Bureau apart from the ongoing construction project of the headquarters, which was evaluated and awarded in the sum of N3,509,327,405, out of which a total sum of N1,407,263,884, so far, representing 16% of the contract sum has been paid while the cumulative job done as at to date is estimated at 10 per cent.”

Read also: Senate concurs with Reps, wants powers to control CCB, CCT

Melaye said that “in spite of the due releases to the Bureau, in the 2016 budget, the Bureau went for the sum of N4.4 billion to buy the nine storey building.”

He added that it was worrisome that the action of the CCB in the whole exercise is not expected of an institution that is expected to protect and watch over the finance of the society by checking corrupt practices in the Nigeria Public Service.

Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, prevented Senators from debating the motion, as he argued that any debate on the issue could amount to pre-judgment.

“Distinguished colleagues, I want to advise that since it is still an allegation, if we subject this to debate, it may be prejudicing the outcome of the investigation.

“This Senate recognizes the absolute need for the Bureau to have a befitting office. I think the issue now is whether there is an ongoing project being abandoned in preference to purchasing an existing one. We are here to ensure that public finances are appropriately spent,” he declared.

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