Date Published: 09/21/11

Gov Idris' Son-in-Law, in N3 billion Contract Scandal
…Abandons Ankpa Township Road Dualization
…Idris annoints him as next Governor
…EFCC says "We are on to it..."

Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State

The tenure of Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi is being dogged by allegations of large scale contract fraud as he prepares to exit in a few months.

Idris is being alleged to have used state funds to corruptly enrich his brother in law, Alhaji idris Wada, popularly called Capt Wada, whom he has positioned to succeed him.

Pointblanknews.com learnt that the Idris administration has, in the last three years, awarded contracts worth over N3 billion to Horizon Construction Co Ltd, which has its corporate office at 40 Lusaka Street, Zone 6, Abuja, even though the firm is notorious for abandoned projects.

The very wealthy and influential Capt Wada, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), owns Horizon Construction, Horizon Stock Brokers, Horizon building Society, Hotel De Horizon, and Horizon Bureau De Change.

According to Pointblanknews.com checks, on August 30 th 2010 via a letter with reference number KGS/CAB/39/VOL111/653, the Kogi State Government made an offer of provisional award of contract to horizon construction, for the dualization of Anpka Township Road. The cost was N622, 169, 569.35. The state Government paid N186, 650, 870, 81 to Horizon as mobilization. The payment was approved in a letter dated September 23, 2010, with reference number MOW/KGC1V/385/VOL1/10. Another N84, 733, 777.10 was later paid bring the total to over N272 Million.

But curiously, the firm abandoned the project for no reason under the watch of Governor Idris. According to a group called Kogi Patriots, led by Mohammed Idris, which has already petitioned the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)“ one year after …the contractor is yet to mobilize to contract site, and no work s going on.”

Spokesman for the EFCC, Femi Babafemi, last night confirmed the receipt of the petition from the group. According to him “we are still looking at it, will definitely investigate the allegations and whoever is culpable would be made to face the law”

On December 29, 2008, Horizon was awarded another road construction contract worth N2, 285, 511, 573. 29, via a letter with reference number KGS/S/CAB/39/Vol1/485. It was for the construction of Iyamoye-Igbagun-Ife Olukotun-Ponyan-Jege road. It was later reviewed upward by N455, 534, 927.04. The Kogi government paid Horizon a whooping N2.4 Billion of the N2.7 Billion as mobilization. Three years after, the project is less than 20 per cent completed.

The same firm, according to our checks, was also awarded another N351, 621, 093, 00 contracts for erosion control on Oguchekwo Street by Agwa Ede, Ankpa.

In petition to the EFCC the Kogi Patriots said “this is a clear case of economic and financial crime which must be investigated. Alhaji Idris Wada (Capt Wada) is the ‘big boss’ of the Horizon Group of Companies, the parent company of Horizon construction..Alhaji Ibrahim Idria the executive Governor, in connivance with Alhaji Wada have looted Kogi treasury under the guise of payment for contracts..”