[ad_1]
Nigeria’s Sustainable Growth Objectives (SDGs) workplace has denied being below any corruption probe by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC).
That is regardless of the SDGs workplace confirming that it was served with EFCC’s letter of investigation actions on allegations of fraud and cash laundering regarding some contracts awarded by the workplace.
The workplace issued its denial in a press release by its Head of Communications, Rotimi Ajayi, on Thursday, and shared with PREMIUM TIMES Friday night.
It issued the assertion in response to a PREMIUM TIMES’ Thursday’s story which revealed the robust indication that the EFCC was beaming searchlight on some contracts awarded by the workplace.
EFCC’s letter dated 17 October and despatched to the SDGs workplace requested data for investigation functions.
The letter, signed by Ahmed Ghali of EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Command, mentioned the fee was investigating circumstances of abuse of workplace, cash laundering, and fraud in regards to the SDGs workplace and a few of its awarded contracts.
It was titled: ‘Investigation Actions: Request for data’, and named six firms that allegedly executed some contracts of curiosity for the SDGs workplace between 2017 and 2020.’
The Senior Particular Adviser to the President on SDGs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who heads the workplace, had mentioned in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday that the letter was a routine communication to totally different businesses by EFCC, and never for crime investigation.
We’ll company with the EFCC
Re-echoing Ms Orelope-Adefulire, the SDGs workplace’s assertion acknowledged that it obtained a letter from the EFCC requesting data on some contracts awarded by the workplace and insisted that the anti-corruption company’s request was routine by the anti-graft company.
Nonetheless, the SDG’s workplace emphasised that the state of affairs didn’t represent a cost or an indictment in opposition to it.
The workplace additionally promised in its assertion to adjust to the EFCC’s requests and insisted that the organisation awaits its outcomes.
“In assist of the anti-corruption stance of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the Workplace will adjust to the requests as it would additionally have an interest within the consequence of the findings.
“However OSSAP-SDGs emphatically asserted that the routine demand for data by the EFCC doesn’t and can’t in any approach quantity to indictment or widespread probe of the Workplace.
“Certainly, we are able to bodly say that OSSAP-SDGs have been exonerated after related routine checks prior to now. The very fact is that OSSAP-SDGs can’t cease the EFCC or some other company from finishing up its statutory duty and identical to different businesses, we’ve got an obligation of cooperating with it within the discharge of such capabilities.
“Nonetheless, OSSAP-SDGs will prefer to alert the media to be aware of those that could need to deploy their medium for media trial, mudsling and smear marketing campaign with out minding the authorized penalties,” Mr Ajayi said.
Background
The Sustainable Growth Objectives (SDGs) idea pushed by the United Nations (UN) on actualisation of set objectives on key problems with poverty, an inclusive economic system, well being and well-being, schooling, gender equality and the enabling surroundings of peace and safety.
President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Ms Orelope-Adefulire, who served because the deputy governor of Lagos State between 2011 and 2015 to the place of Senior Particular Assistant to the President on Sustainable Growth Objectives (SSAP-SDGs) in 2016 and 2019.
In 2020, allegations trailed the SDGs workplace over a lacking N23 billion in her workplace. Ms Orelope-Adefulire denied the allegations.
In the meantime, in its letter, the anti-angency requested the SDGs workplace to supply it with paperwork of contracts awarded to the businesses between 2017 and 2020, in addition to the certificates of completion of the contracts.
This, the fee mentioned within the letter, would allow its detectives to conclude its investigations.
As well as, the EFCC demanded fee vouchers and in addition requested an advance tender copy of the small print of contracts awarded to the businesses.
The letter offered an e mail tackle the paperwork needs to be despatched to “together with some other particulars that will be helpful to the fee’s inquiry.”
The EFCC mentioned its requests are in accordance with sections 38(1) and (2) of the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (Institutions) Act, 2004 and Part 24 of the Cash Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022 as amended.
“The command is investigating a case of abuse of public workplace, cash laundering and diversion of funds involving the under-listed firms that had been alleged to have carried out contracts for SDG between 2017 – 2020.
“In view of the above, you might be requested to kindly furnish the fee with the next paperwork to allow us conclude our investigation:
“i. Licensed True Copies of the checklist of awarded contracts;
“ii. Certificates of completion (or in any other case).”
Id of firms
The businesses named in EFCC’s letter are: Jacodi Nigeria Restricted, Metrics Built-in Photo voltaic Service, Hisense Know-how Ltd, and Worth Builders Nig. Ltd, Prismvisa Contr. Nig. Ltd and Nurla Consulting Serv. Ltd.
The businesses with no on-line presence are positioned in other places – Edo, Gombe and Niger states in addition to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Checks by our reporter on the web portal of the Company Affairs Fee (CAC) confirmed that Jacodi Nigeria Restricted has an workplace in Abuja with Jerhro Ogunmola, Olabisi Ogunmola and Dabi Botsha as its administrators on document.
Metrics Built-in Photo voltaic Service, additionally positioned in Abuja, has Amoke Chukwu, Badmosi Ismaila, and Amoke Chigbo as its administrators.
Nurla Consulting Serv. Ltd is positioned in Niger State, and its administrators are Zainab Shiru, Amina Shiru, Nur-al-din Shiru, and Abubakar Shiru.
Prismvisa Contr. Nig. Ltd has its workplace in Gombe and its administrators are Ismail Muhammad and Habiba Jibrin.
Assist PREMIUM TIMES’ journalism of integrity and credibility
Good journalism prices some huge cash. But solely good journalism can guarantee the opportunity of society, an accountable democracy, and a clear authorities.
For continued free entry to the very best investigative journalism within the nation we ask you to contemplate making a modest assist to this noble endeavour.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you might be serving to to maintain a journalism of relevance and guaranteeing it stays free and out there to all.
Donate
TEXT AD: Name Willie – +2348098788999
[ad_2]
Source link