By Uche Mbah
A group, Alliance for Collective Progress, has called on the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to probe alleged breach of the state public procurement law in the execution of the contract of Edo state special hospital awarded by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole when he was governor of the state.
Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, has raised a Judicial panel in January this year headed by Justice James Oyomire (retd) to probe the contract. The commission has indicted the former governor.
According to the leader of the group, Nehemiah Omogiate, the call has become necessary following Oshiomhole’s indictment.
“We are here to register grievances concerning the Multi-billion Naira Edo specialist Hospital, a project that President Muhammadu Buhari was deceived to inaugurate four years ago”, he said, saying that they are aware that the Panel of inquiry set up by Godwin Obaseki indicted him.
“Up till now, the EFCC has not done anything about it”, he continued.
They have not officially petitioned EFCC.
But Omogiate insisted that the Hospital was commissioned four years ago without equipment. According to him, the equipment was borrowed to give a semblance of having equipment purchased for the use of the hospital.
“We learned that the report indicted the governor for mobilizing the contractor with 75% of the contract sum which exceeded the 25% fee for mobilization for contractors”.
Head, Public Affairs, EFCC, Benin zone, Williams Oseghale, advised them to submit a petition.
“I have heard you”, he said, “and I am going to take the message back to the management. But I advise that you also send us a written petition.”
But another group, Edo state coalition for good governance and internal democracy called the panel findings ultra vires and of no effect, claiming that the matter is already before a competent court. They claim that the certificate of completion, supply, and installation of medical equipment at the hospital was issued on September 11, 2018, when governor Obaseki was already in power.
