EFCC To Arrest Jibrin Over Alleged N418m Contracts Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to quiz a former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, again this week over a petition alleging “fraudulent award” of contracts worth N418m to firms linked to him.

The petition, dated July 26, 2016, was written by the Anti-corruption Unit of the National Youth Council of Nigeria.

The EFCC acknowledged receipt of the petition on July 29.

Jibrin was reported to have been interrogated on Tuesday over allegations relating to N17bn money laundering.

Reports have it that the EFCC had concluded arrangements to interrogate the former appropriation committee chairman again this week.

An officer, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, said, “Our operatives will before the end of the week, invite him to answer questions relating to the fresh petition.”

In the petition, the NYCN stated that in September 2014, the National Commission For Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons awarded 10 contracts to five companies in the combined sum of N418m in one day.

It noted that the contract documents merely directed the firms to make supplies to “Kano State”, but did not indicate the purpose of the contract, the location where the supplies would be delivered, nor the names of the recipients.

However, in each of the contract document, the agency copied Jibrin, who was at the time the Chairman, House Committee on Finance.

Part of the petition read, “All contacts were awarded in one day; all the contracts were awarded to Kano State.

Going through the contracts papers, Sunday PUNCH observed that one of the firms, M/S Eash Progressive Ventures, was awarded a contract to supply 140 units of computers for N47.6m.

Another firm, Eleku Construction Limited, was awarded a contract worth N44.1m to supply 2,452 bags of “maize and millet to Kano State.”

The council urged the EFCC to probe the contracts because of the “curious” nature of the deals, which did not include any other lawmaker or the Kano State Government other than Jibrin, who was copied.

It called on the commission to establish the “capability” or otherwise of Jibrin and the Federal Commissioner, who awarded the 10 contracts.

The document to the EFCC was signed by the Council’s Coordinator, Mr. Ifeanyi Okonkwo.