In a surprising turn of events, the Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Nyeson Wike, has written to both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), urging them to invite and interrogate former FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammed M. Bello. The purpose of this summon is for Mallam Bello to provide explanations regarding various suspicious activities during his tenure.
One of the alarming issues raised by Hon. Wike is the awarding of exorbitant contracts without proper justification. Among these, the most striking example is the 1-kilometer road stretching from Gaduwa Estate Junction to the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Office. The cost of this seemingly ordinary road construction stood at a staggering 4 billion Nigerian Naira, which was inexplicably paid in full.
Furthermore, it has come to light that a contract initially valued at 10 billion Naira was later inflated to a mind-boggling 119 billion Naira. Similarly, another contract, originally slated for 50 billion Naira, experienced an astonishing jump to 200 billion Naira. These unjustified increases raise serious concerns about transparency and accountability within the FCT administration.
Moreover, the former minister is also under scrutiny for infractions related to procurement processes. One such case involves a contract for the maintenance of Usman Dam, which had a price tag of 9 billion Naira, yet was paid in full without any Bill of Quantities (BOQ). This irregularity brings into question the responsible management of public funds and highlights the need for a thorough investigation.
In addition to the financial irregularities, Hon. Wike has also accused Mallam Bello of approving the conversion of green areas, designated for public parks and environmental preservation, into residential plots. Furthermore, residential houses located in prominent areas such as Wuse 2, Maitama Gana Street, and Garki have allegedly been converted into commercial spaces, directly contradicting the Abuja master plan.
As a result of these questionable actions, the former FCT minister has left an alarming debt of over 1.2 trillion Naira to the Federal Capital Territory without tangible evidence of corresponding development.
The summoning of Mallam Muhammed M. Bello by both the EFCC and ICPC marks a significant step towards uncovering potential corruption and ensuring accountability within the FCT administration. This case will undoubtedly capture the attention of the public, as they eagerly await answers concerning these serious allegations.
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