Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Housing and Town Planning is alleged to have embezzled N4 billion in a N37 billion contract awarded for the design and building of Government House, Uyo constructed by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC StraightNews has learnt.
The commissioner, Arc. Ime Okon Ekpo, who retired as a director in the state civil service in 2004 but was appointed in 2008 as a Project Manager by ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio to oversee the project, is being accused of defrauding five consultants of more than N4 billion in the construction of phases 1, 11 and 111 of the project.
In a petition on behalf of the five consultants to Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Chairman in Abuja, Arc. Ubokutom Nyah of Otto Trinity Studios (Architects) averred that in 2013, the Akpabio administration awarded contract for the building of Government House, Uyo.
The petition dated August 24, this year is entitled “Petition Against Ime O. Ekpo for corrupt enrichment, abuse of office and fraudulent conversion of more than N4 billion consultancy fee during the execution of Government House complex, Phases 1, 11 and 111 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.”
Nyah stated that during the execution of the project, government appointed five consultants- Otto Trinity Studios (Architects), Amana Consortium (Structural/Project Manager), Eno Iwoketo and Associate (Mechanical), Dranibs Engineering Nigeria Ltd (Electrical) and Integrated Practice Consultants (Quality Surveyors)- for professional service.
The petitioner, who was appointed lead architectural consultant by the government for the project, alleged that “the professional fees of those consultants were discussed, agreed and N5.2 billion made available for payment to consultants.”
According to him, government moved the consultancy fee into the account of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc under the contract agreement for disbursement to beneficiaries.
Nyah lamented that the project manager-turned commissioner failed to administer the funds commensurate with the contract agreement and in the process, shortchanging the consultants in the process.
He noted “The substantial disparity between what Ekpo is offering us as balance of professional fees payable over authentic claims is deserving of a dispassionate investigation because we know that authentic fees were captured in the contract and provided for by the government.”
However, Ekpo has denied the allegation that he embezzled more than N4 billion in the N37 billion contract awarded for design and construction of the project leveled against him by the consultants.
