The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently investigating the offices of the Delta State deputy governor, Ministry of Works (rural roads) and others over the multi-billion-naira mother and child hospital staff quarters road contract in the state.
The road is at Owa Alero in the Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, south-south Nigeria.
Speaking with SaharaReporters on the condition of anonymity, a senior staff member in the office of the deputy governor disclosed that the EFCC investigation followed a petition by a Delta-based businessman and petroleum marketer, Sunday Efanimjor, whose filling station and gas plant worth several millions of naira were "unlawfully” demolished by the immediate past administration without compensation.
The source identified the permanent secretary, office of the deputy governor, Maxwell Awuse, who doubles as the Secretary of the Delta State Tenders Board, as among those being investigated by the anti-corruption body.
The state tender board is domiciled in the office of the deputy governor.
The source said, "Awuse is one of the major people the commission is investigating.
“One Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, MD of Ify Bross Construction Nigeria Limited; Andrew Imafidon, Consultant, Mother and Child Hospital staff quarters road; Noel Omodon, former commissioner for works (urban roads), Delta State; Solomon Akpotowho, Director, Ministry of Works, Asaba; Emmanuel Odita, Deputy Director, Ministry of Works, Asaba; Elvis of Delta State Urban and Regional Planning Board and Agboma Chuks, Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Ika North East are among those the commission is investigating concerning the road contract.
"Sometime in April 2023, the commission wrote a letter to Maxwell Awuse and it was acknowledged by Awuse on May 3, 2023. Unfortunately, Awuse is not cooperating with the commission on the investigation.
“To the best of my knowledge, Awuse is frustrating all efforts of the commission by failing to avail the commission of all the necessary information and vital documents relating to the contract.
"Do you know that the contract for the mother and child hospital staff quarters road was never bid for before the commencement of the construction of the road?
“The road was completed and inaugurated on January 25, 2023, by the immediate past governor, Ifeanyi Okowa before it was tendered for bidding on January 31, 2023. The completed and inaugurated road is part of the land owned by the Delta-based businessman and petroleum marketer, Sunday Efanimjor, where his demolished filling station and gas plant were situated along Owa-Eke/ Owa-Alero Road, Owa-Ekei in the Ika North East Local Government Area of the state.”
In a letter titled "Investigation Activities Construction Of The Mother And Child Hospital Staff Quarters Road In Owa Alero, Ika North East Local Government Area", marked 'CR:3000/EFCC/BNZ/LPFS/TA/335/
The letter was addressed to Delta State Tenders Board Secretariat, Office of the Deputy Governor. The letter signed by A C E 1 Kanu Idagu, EFCC, Zonal Commander of Benin, requested certain documents regarding the road contract.
"This commission is investigating a case involving the above document dated 31/01/2023 in which the need to make recourse to your office has become necessary.
“In view of the above, you are requested to furnish the commission with the following information; (I) Confirm if the above contract was tendered through your office. (II) If (1) above is the affirmative. Avail this office with contract details; and (III) Any other information that may assist the commission in its investigation.
"The request is made pursuant to section 38 (1)&2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and section 24 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2002 as amended," the letter reads in part.
Efanimjor had cried out over what he called the "unlawful" demolition of his filling station and gas plant.
He had accused “one Emmanuel Odita, deputy director of the Ministry of Works (Urban) and some other officials of the ministry of demanding a bribe of N25 million” from him before he would be compensated for the demolition of his properties “worth over N600 million".
Odita had swiftly denied ever making such a demand from the victim.
Awuse did not answer calls from SaharaReporters nor reply to a text message sent to him.