Six Federal lawmakers have been implicated in a N116million Constituency
\nproject fraud, following a thorough investigations by the Economic and
\nFinancial Crimes Commission, EFCC.<\/p>\n
The lawmakers were awarded contracts valued at about N116million for
\ntheir various constituencies. According to EFCC investigations, they
\ncollected the money but never executed the projects.<\/p>\n
The lawmakers are: Hon. Herman Hembe, Hon. Benjamin Aboho, Hon. Udende
\nEmmanuel and Hon. Orker-Jev. Others are Hon. Abubarkar Mahmud Wambai and
\nHon. Anthony Madawatte.<\/p>\n
Consequently, Justice A.R. Muhammad of Federal High Court, Abuja, has
\ngranted an order for interim forfeiture of N116m alleged proceeds of
\ncrime linked to the non- execution of constituency projects awarded to
\nHamza Barau and Hamshakin Ventures Ltd and funded by the Small and
\nMedium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN on behalf of
\nsome federal law makers.<\/p>\n
The constituency projects involved the provision of Strategic
\nEmpowerment Programme in Akko, Gombe State, conduct of Pilot Seasonal
\nIntervention Programme in Vandeikya\/Konshisha, Benue State, provision of
\nStrategic Empowerment Programme in Katsina-Ala\/Logo\/Ukum, Benue State,
\nIntervention Programme for Ailing Enterprises in Vaneikya\/Konshisha,
\nBenue State and the supply of motorcycles in Kiyawa, Jigawa State.<\/p>\n
The contractor, Hamza Barau and Hamshakin Ventures Ltd failed to execute
\nany of the\u00a0 projects after receiving payment, and strangely a
\ncertificate of Job Completion was issued by SMEDAN.<\/p>\n
Investigation by the EFCC, established that Hamza Barau and Hamshakin
\nVentures Ltd were able to earn certificate of job completion by sharing
\nthe project funds with the legislators, whom the constituency projects
\nwere allotted to. The legislators include: Hon. Herman Hembe, Hon.
\nBenjamin Aboho, Hon. Udende Emmanuel and Hon. Orker-Jev. Others are Hon.
\nAbubarkar Mahmud Wambai and Hon. Anthony Madawatte.<\/p>\n
The EFCC ex-parte motion for an order of interim forfeiture of the sum,
\ndated August 8, 2019 was filed on August 22, 2019 pursuant to Section
\n44(2) of the Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as
\namended) and Section 17 of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences
\nAct No, 14, 2006.<\/p>\n
Prosecution counsel, Ekele E. Iheanacho had told the court that the
\nfunds sought to be forfeited were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of
\nunlawful activities and prayed the court to grant the prayer of the
\nCommission.<\/p>\n
Following the interim forfeiture order, the court directed that a
\npublication be made by the Commission in any national newspaper
\nrequesting anyone who is interested in the funds sought to be forfeited
\nto show cause within 21 days, why the forfeiture of the fund should not
\nbe made in favor of the federal government.<\/p>\n
Justice Muhammed adjourned the matter till\u00a0 November 19, 2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":69974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n