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Senate queries NECO over award of N6.5bn contracts without due process
THE Senate has queried the nation’s secondary examination body, the National Examination Council, NECO, over alleged award of contracts to the tune of N6.5 billion without due process . According to the Senate, the contracts awarded by NECO are the printing of security and non- security documents. This was raised by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, led by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which relied on the 2017 report of Office of Auditor General for the Federation submitted to it for consideration. According to the Auditor General, NECO is unable to present any record to show that approval was granted for the contract by the Ministerial tender board in the first contract that cost about N451 million. In the second contract that cost about N6.1 billion, quotations were not collected from three bidders as required by PPA 2007. It also noted that taxes were not deducted from some of the contract payment, even as there was no technical and financial evaluation.
According to the report, evidence of placement of advertisement was not attached to either payment vouchers or contract files. The report noted further that the amount expended was above the threshold of the Council and that the contracts were split, with some awarded to same contractor with LPO and work order issued on the same date. The query read: “Examination of records and documents revealed that the Commission’s Tenders Board approved the award of contract for printing of security materials in the sum of ¦ 451 million to a company in March 2017 in contravention of provisions of federal government circular No.SGF/OP/I/S.3/XI/849 of January 16, 2016.
‘’The circular reiterated that the approved revised thresholds for service wide application, for which the Parastatal Tender Board can only exercise authority on works whose value is less than ¦ 250 million, while any sum above this, is to be referred to the Ministerial Tenders Board for approval. “We sought the authority for the above approval, including the ministerial approval but none was provided. “The above unilateral award of contracts without following due process may lead to awarding contracts to unqualified contractors. Recommendation The Registrar/CEO should be sanctioned in line with provisions of Financial Regulation 3117.” In his response, NECO’s Registrar, Prof. Godswill Obioma, who spoke on the issue of N461 million, said: “These are payments to Data Science Nigeria Limited for the supply of optical mark readers for objective question papers for various examinations conducted by the Council.” The committee sustained the queries on the ground that the Council could not provide evidence of approval from the Ministerial Tenders Board before awarding contracts beyond its threshold.
The second query read: “Examination of contracts awarded for the printing of security and non- security documents valued at ¦ 6,166,405,407.42 revealed that the contracts were awarded without compliance with the provisions of PART VI, Section 24 (I) of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2017 as amended, which states that except as provided by this Act, all procurements of goods and works by all procuring entities shall be conducted by open competitive bidding.
“The following irregularities were also noted, quotations were not collected from three bidders as required by PPA 2007, taxes were not deducted from some of the contract payments. ‘’There was no technical and financial evaluation, evidence of placement of advertisement was not attached to either payment vouchers or contract files. The amount expended was above the threshold of the Council, ‘’The contracts were split as some contracts were awarded to same contractor with LPO and work order issued on the same date.” Also responding to the N6.1 billion query, the Registrar said: “ The contracts for the printing for our questions are warded through selective tendering. This is the case to avoid leakages of our examinations and award of contract to printers of doubted integrity.” Chairman of the committee sustained the query because the Registrar was unable to defend it.
News
Updated: More trouble for Yahaya Bello as immigration places him on watch list
Updated: More trouble for Yahaya Bello as immigration places him on watch list
The Nigeria Immigration Service has ordered the arrest of former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaha Bello, if found at any entry/exit point of the country.
The NIS said on Thursday night that Yahaya Bellowas placed on its watchlist after evading arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegation of N80 billion fraud.
This notice came a few hours after the EFCC had declared the former governor wanted.
The NIS, in a letter addressed to the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency as well as other formations declared that Bello had been placed on its watch list.
The letter was signed by the Assistant Comptroller of Immigration (Suspect Index), D S Umar, on behalf of the Comptroller General of the Immigration Service.
Part of the letter read, “Suffice to mention that the subject is being prosecuted before the Federal High Court Abuja for Conspiracy, Breach of Trust and Money Laundering vide letter Ref: CR: 3000/EFCC/LS/EGCS.1/TE/V 1/279 dated 18th April 2024, if seen at any entry or exit point, he should be arrested and referred to the Director of Investigation or contact 08036226329/07039617304 for further action.”
News
BREAKING : EFCC declares Yahaya Bello wanted, seeks information on his whereabout
BREAKING : EFCC declares Yahaya Bello wanted, seeks information on his whereabout
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday declared former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, wanted.
The anti-graft agency said Bello is wanted for alleged offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 billion.
The EFCC called on Nigerians with information as to his whereabout to report immediately to the Commission or the nearest Police Station.
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“The public is hereby notified that YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO (former Governor of Kogi State), whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with alleged case of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).
Bello, 48-year old Ebiraman, is a native of Okenne Local Government of Kogi State. His last known address is: 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its lbadan, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja offices or through these numbers 09-9044751-3, 08093322644, 08183322644, 07026350721-3, 0706350724-5; its e-mail address: info@efccnigeria.org or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies, ” a public notice issued by the EFCC read.
BREAKING : EFCC declares Yahaya Bello wanted, seeks information on his whereabout
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BREAKING: Submit yourself for probe, FG tells Ex-Kogi gov, Yahaya Bello
BREAKING: Submit yourself for probe, FG tells Ex-Kogi gov, Yahaya Bello
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has called on the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to submit himself for probe.
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