Six Federal lawmakers have been implicated in a N116million Constituency
project fraud, following a thorough investigations by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The lawmakers were awarded contracts valued at about N116million for
their various constituencies. According to EFCC investigations, they
collected the money but never executed the projects.
The lawmakers are: Hon. Herman Hembe, Hon. Benjamin Aboho, Hon. Udende
Emmanuel and Hon. Orker-Jev. Others are Hon. Abubarkar Mahmud Wambai and
Hon. Anthony Madawatte.
Consequently, Justice A.R. Muhammad of Federal High Court, Abuja, has
granted an order for interim forfeiture of N116m alleged proceeds of
crime linked to the non- execution of constituency projects awarded to
Hamza Barau and Hamshakin Ventures Ltd and funded by the Small and
Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN on behalf of
some federal law makers.
The constituency projects involved the provision of Strategic
Empowerment Programme in Akko, Gombe State, conduct of Pilot Seasonal
Intervention Programme in Vandeikya/Konshisha, Benue State, provision of
Strategic Empowerment Programme in Katsina-Ala/Logo/Ukum, Benue State,
Intervention Programme for Ailing Enterprises in Vaneikya/Konshisha,
Benue State and the supply of motorcycles in Kiyawa, Jigawa State.
The contractor, Hamza Barau and Hamshakin Ventures Ltd failed to execute
any of the projects after receiving payment, and strangely a
certificate of Job Completion was issued by SMEDAN.
Investigation by the EFCC, established that Hamza Barau and Hamshakin
Ventures Ltd were able to earn certificate of job completion by sharing
the project funds with the legislators, whom the constituency projects
were allotted to. The legislators include: Hon. Herman Hembe, Hon.
Benjamin Aboho, Hon. Udende Emmanuel and Hon. Orker-Jev. Others are Hon.
Abubarkar Mahmud Wambai and Hon. Anthony Madawatte.
The EFCC ex-parte motion for an order of interim forfeiture of the sum,
dated August 8, 2019 was filed on August 22, 2019 pursuant to Section
44(2) of the Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as
amended) and Section 17 of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences
Act No, 14, 2006.
Prosecution counsel, Ekele E. Iheanacho had told the court that the
funds sought to be forfeited were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of
unlawful activities and prayed the court to grant the prayer of the
Commission.
Following the interim forfeiture order, the court directed that a
publication be made by the Commission in any national newspaper
requesting anyone who is interested in the funds sought to be forfeited
to show cause within 21 days, why the forfeiture of the fund should not
be made in favor of the federal government.
Justice Muhammed adjourned the matter till November 19, 2019