While the civic group called on ICPC to investigate the cases and prosecute those found culpable, it promised to provide more information as may be required to assist the investigation.
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to thoroughly investigate and prosecute contractors who collected public funds without project execution.
CJID, a West African media innovation and development think tank, which made the call in a petition to the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN) revealed that during its 2023, tracking and monitoring of public funds allocated for public projects in various communities, it discovered some infractions in the procurement process of some projects. The organisation cited instances.
In the petition, the group stated that in Borno State, during its tracking of projects, they found at least five public projects worth N1.2 billion awarded to Obtuse Tech Engineering and Construction Limited, a company in which Hon. Ahmed Satomi, a Federal House of Representatives member, holds significant interests.
"It is important to note that the contracts were awarded by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), an agency Hon. Satomi exercises oversight function as Vice Chairman of the House Committee on FERMA.
"Similarly, we found that the 132-kilometre Maiduguri-Monguno road has remained abandoned despite the disbursement of funds to contractors."
It explained that in 2019, about N21.7 billion was awarded by the Nigerian Government to Qumecs Nigeria Limited for road construction, in addition to another N200 million disbursed in 2020.
"This project requires further scrutiny and interrogation from your agency," it said.
"We also found that the construction of a development centre for drug abuse victims in Nasarawa had not been executed. Between 2020 and 2022, N30 million was awarded for the project in the FG Zonal Intervention Project budget. Information from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation indicates that funds had been released.
"Although the agency alleged that the project had been completed, our on-site investigation showed that nothing of sort was in that location, which calls for further scrutiny."
While the civic group called on ICPC to investigate the cases and prosecute those found culpable, it promised to provide more information as may be required to assist the investigation.
The Centre explained that through its UDEME project, it promotes open data and governance while encouraging citizens' participation through civic education and advocacy to strengthen their capacity to track and monitor public funds allocated for public projects in their communities to ensure that the projects are delivered for the developmental purpose they are intended for.