BEVERLY HILLS, CA, December 10, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives Tuesday accused the Ministry of Environment of corrupt practices just as it queried the N2.6 billion domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) with just a few months to the end of the year, when many contractors were yet to be paid.
Chairman of the Committee Hon. Uche Ekwunife, said her committee will investigate and if the allegations are true, will not hesitate to recommend that the appropriate sanctions be taken against anyone found wanting.
A member of the committee, Hon. Pat Asadu, who opened the floodgate of allegations against the Ministry at an oversight visit on Tuesday, said he was ready to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over corrupt charges at the ministry.
According to Asadu, “The lack of transparency and level of corruption in this ministry is a shame. The money you collect from contractors ensures that projects don’t get kicked off. I am going to mention names that can be prosecuted. The companies that you select that are doing deals with you are talking to me.”
He alleged that out of constituency jobs worth N40 million, N9.1 million was collected from some contractors even before the jobs given commenced, adding that exposing, uprooting and prosecuting corruption in the ministry is the way forward.
“I will bring contractors who paid money and they will state whom they paid to,” he threatened.
But debunking the allegations, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Haruna Taiye, who represented the minister, denied the allegation. He insisted that any contractor that has such claims should bring it to the fore.
“I will like to meet one or two contractors who have this allegation. I am ready to discipline anyone that is doing that,” he said.
According to him, out of the N4.1 billion released so far to the ministry, “over N2. 6 billion is awaiting payment and this we will collect by tomorrow (Wednesday).”
He said this was exclusive of the N 1 billion in Special Duties Ministry.
By Saint Mugaga, Abuja
