By Achadu Gabriel, kaduna
As the contract squarble lingered on, Mr. Emmanuel Otokpa, the main contractor awarded N57 billion contract in Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), has made another startling revelations, alleging that NPA moved the contract funds from Port Authority account to another account before the circular stopping movement of money from agencies accounts, when handover date drew closer in 2023.
The contractor also said Barrister Nafiu Yakubu Lugga, the Special Adviser (SA) to Malami, the ex-Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), told him that the N57 billion had already been moved to another account when he drew his attention to the circular stopping movement of money from agencies, he watched on television close to the handover date of government to Tinubu, in 2023.
Mr. Otokpa had, during a press conference, penultimate Sunday in kaduna, alleged that the N57 billion contract was given to him through Buhari Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami office, but was diverted and money siphoned which prevented him from executing the people oeriented contract in Kebbi, Kaduna, Benue states and other states till date.
A statement shared with our Correspondent weekend reads: “Furthermore, when I drew the attention of Mr Nafiu Lugga to His Excellency’s statement which I watched on TV on 3rd Match 2023 that no agency should move funds from any account again, I called Nafiu Lugga to inform him and he told me that the funds for the contracts has been moved already to another account that I should not worry.
“Sir, as regards my matter with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Former Attorney General of the Federation (Abubakar Malami) and the Former MD Nigerian Ports Authority (Mohammed Bello Koko).
‘The EFCC Chairman, after receiving my Petition and investigations, invited me and my Lawyer Bolarewa Aidi (SAN) to their office, the Head Quarter in Abuja, and after I adopted my Petition, the EFCC Officials checked the documents i attached to my Petition with there office computer system.
“I believe the check is to ascertain the signature of the Former AGF Abubakar Malami. Subsequently, we were advised through the Head of Special Duties EFCC, Dr Ikpe David, that the matter be resolved in-house; I believe that’s to avoid further embarrassment to the parties involved”, he stated.
Mr. Otokpa continue “Furthermore, the EFCC called some of the sub- Companies but was told to call me, (I Mr Emmanuel Otokpa), that I have been authorized to act on their behalf on all matters as regards the NPA Contracts.
“In view of this, the current NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, contacted me through Hon. Yakubu Hamza, the Former Personal Assistant (PA) to Former AGF (Abubakar Malami), begging me to accept Twenty Five Billion Naira (N25bn) contract, out of the Fifty Seven Billion Naira N57bn) contract, that was earlier awarded and diverted, that the NPA, will be giving me the remaining Thirty- Two Billion Naira Contracts subsequently in beat or piece.
“I accepted this terms of Settlement as proposed by the MD NPA Dr Abubakar Dantsoho. Afterwards, I was requested to send some money for the Preparation of the Bill of Quantity and Costing by their Engineers, which I did.
“Later i was told the Bill of Quantity and the Costing was done and that because of inflation the total Contract Sum was upgraded from Twenty Five Billion Naira to about Thirty Billion Naira.
“Afterwards, I was contacted to send more money for the collection of the Award Letters which I also did, and until now, it has been an endless promises for the collection of the said Award Letters.
‘More so, Hon. Hamza Yakubu, the PA, whom I’ve been responsible for his welfare and upkeep of his wife for Months throughout his stay in Lagos at the request of the NPA for the collection of the Award Letters, stop picking up my calls and replying my messages.
“Even until now, rather, he sent messages to a friend of mine, a Deputy Director, alleging that the NPA has an understanding, arrangement with him and that if I am not careful I will loose the Contracts. This implies that the NPA no doubt has perfected its Plans to also divert the Contracts again.
“Furthermore, the EFCC has been foot dragging on this issue as evident in it’s inability to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators, and the numerous reminder Letters that I’ve written through my Lawyers to them’, he narrated.
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