Nigeria’s House of Representatives Committee on Public Account has resolved to unmask the identities of persons behind companies that took contracts valued at the sum of N18.9 billion from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for clearing of bushes, land preparation, rehabilitation of soil plant lab and others during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
The Committee resolution followed the appearance of representatives of two of the 20 affected companies at the resumed investigative hearing on queries to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
Chairman of the Committee, Wole Oke who declined to take presentations from two managerial officers sent to represent two of the 20 affected companies; Easy Construction Company Limited and Nukaag Ventures Limited said they were not in a position to provide details of the contracts.
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He directed the Managing Directors or Chairmen of the companies to personally appear before the Committee and give details of the transactions.
Clerk of the Committee was also directed to request for detailed information and financial status of the 20 affected companies from the Registrar of the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, and the Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS.
The Committee promised to carry out thorough investigation into the matter especially to unravel the location of the projects and their significance to the country’s economy.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
