The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for taking the initiative into the full-scale investigation into the on-going N13.6 billion Enugu State secretariat project.
Enugu State government had approved N13.6 billion for the construction of the state new secretariat by Arab Contractors Limited.
Reacting to the news, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran, lauded the anti-graft commission for living up to expectation by reopening the case file.
“It is highly commendable that the case file is reopened. It means the EFCC is waking up from its slumber. The State former Accountant-General, Eunice Ugwu had claimed that the project would cost N8bn as against N13.6bn reported earlier and she also said that the government only released money for the feasibility studies and demolition of old secretariat, whereas funded were provided for same in the 2012 budget.
Where did the funds budgeted for the demolition and feasibility studies in the 2012 go to? Corruption has been the problem of this country over the years. It is very disheartening that the government at all levels have rendered the masses impoverished with the poor becoming poorer. Many items in the budget recur every year with no meaningful impact on the lives of masses. The building of the new secretariat in Enugu State, is no doubt, another avenue to rape and maim Enugu State masses and siphon the state funds into private pockets.
It is a shameful thing that funds meant for developmental projects like provision of good roads, potable water, good hospitals are cornered into private coffers all in the name of white elephant projects. The immediate redeployment of former Accountant-General of the State, Eunice Ugwu to the State’s Civil Service Commission as Permanent Secretary is enough indictment on the Enugu State government. It is clearly an attempt to cover-up the fraud allegation,” Adeniran averred.
The CACOL boss therefore, urged the EFCC to step up investigation and ensure that nobody is spared in the course of their work. He submitted that anybody found culpable should be made to face the wrath of the law.
