The South-West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged Nigerians to ask the governor of Osun state, Mr Rauf Aregbesola why his government has been incoherent in its defence of allegations of giving N17.8billion contract to a bankrupt company.
The party, in a statement issued by its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade, said it was insisting on anti-corruption agencies looking into the contract given to SAMMYA Nigeria Ltd “a company that had its accounts ganisheed just last year by the FCT High Court over unpaid debts owed WEMA bank.”
The PDP said Nigerians should note the contradictory reactions from Aregbesola’s government on the allegations with his spokesman confirming the judgement while his finance commissioner said it was a mere “dispute over bank charges.”
According to the PDP, the incoherence of the state government in its defence of the matter showed clearly the level of “guilt” of the government which it said “borrowed the N17.8billion from the Infrastructure Bank and handed it over to SAMMYA.”
“The commissioner said it was a bank charges dispute with WEMA bank, but we are talking about a court judgement that is readily available to virtually all Nigerians. The issues are very clear. The court garnisheed the company’s accounts in November 2011 after it could not pay the N23million judgement debt slammed on it in February 2011.
“The Osun state government should come out clearly stating in clear terms why the contract did not go through competitive bidding and due process as well as listing previous jobs successfully executed and completed by the company. We see the government’s highly abusive and indecorous statements as mere red herrings which won’t work,” the party said.
SAMMYA Nigeria Limited, owned by one Sammy Adigun, an in-law to Governor Aregbesola had owed Wema Bank Plc a sum of N23, 348,491.43, as a result of which a Federal High Court, Abuja on November 2, 2011 via SUIT NO: – FCT/HC/CV/968/2007 Garnishee the Accounts of the company in 10 Banks.
The judgment debt plus interest in the judgment delivered by Justice M. A. Nasir on November 2, 2011 amounted to N25, 099,628.28.
The PDP insisted that Nigerians, especially the anti-corruption agencies must ask questions as to how a company that was declared bankrupt late last year could be awarded a N17.8 billion contract 10 months after.
the Its stated head office at 13, Williams Street, Gbagada, Shomolu, Lagos does not exist.
