The Northern Frontiers for Good Governance has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the alleged corrupt award of a N1 billion contract by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to Greed Vision Nigeria Limited for the Phase 1 renovation and rehabilitation of the Ojude Oba Pavilion in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
The group levelled the accusation in a petition it sent to the EFCC, seen by The Eagle Online, which was dated December 20, 2024.
The group said it received credible information that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security recently awarded a contract worth N1 billion for the renovation and rehabilitation of the Phase 1 of the Ojude Oba Pavilion.
In the petition, titled: “Petition for investigation into the alleged corrupt award of a N1 billion contract by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for the renovation and rehabilitation of the Ojude Oba Pavilion in Ijebu Ode,” the group expressed worry that the ministry is busy awarding contracts outside its purview at a time farmers in the country are in serious need of assistance in terms of farm implements and fertilizer, while others cannot access their farms due to the activities of bandits and terrorists.
The Northern Frontiers for Good Governance said: “It is disturbing that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s budget, which is supposed to be for seedlings, tractors and help for farmers has become a financial input to the emergency renovation and rehabilitation of the Ojude Oba Pavilion.”
In the petition signed by its National Coordinator, Mallam Abdullah Tanko, it urged the EFCC to investigate the circumstances surrounding the award of the contract, determine the actual cost of the project and compare it with the awarded contract sum and the motive behind it.
The group also urged the anti-graft agency to find out how the project passed through legislative scrutiny of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, which is headed by an indigene of Ogun State, recover any misappropriated fund, if any, and prosecute those found culpable.
According to it: “The prompt action of the EFCC would prevent further misappropriation of public funds and ensure that those found culpable are brought to justice.”
The EFCC, in a letter dated December 23, 2024, acknowledged the receipt of the petition, numbered: EFCC/PET/HQR/4401/2024.
