The South-West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on anti-corruption agencies in the country to probe the Osun State Government’s award of a N17.8 billion road contract to SAMMYA Nigeria Limited, a company that was declared bankrupt by an Abuja Federal High Court last year November.
In August, this year, the Osun State Government awarded the contract of N17.8 billion for the construction of a dual carriage road from Osogbo to the Kwara State boundary to SAMMYA Nigeria Limited, owned by one Sammy Adigun.
The contract being funded by Infrastructure Bank Plc involved the construction of 9.52km dual carriageway from Osogbo to Dagbolu International Market, construction of 20.5km dual carriageway from Osogbo to Ikirun and 16.55km from Ikirun to Ila-Odo in Kwara State.
However, the PDP said in a statement issued today by its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade that SAMMYA Nigeria Limited owed Wema Bank Plc a sum of 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 party said 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 said; “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.
“More so that the contract award was never bidded for or advertised and money for it was borrowed from Infrastructure Bank, Abuja.
“From our investigations, SAMMYA Nigeria Limited is just being used to by the Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola to loot Osun State treasury in connivance with the Managing Director of the Infrastructure Bank Plc, Mr Adekunle Oyinloye because almost everything about the company (SAMMYA) is fake. Its stated head office at 13 ,Williams Street, Gbagada, Shomolu, Lagos does not exist.
“Particularly, Nigerians should check the company’s website to confirm that the company does not have any history or track record in road construction. It has never constructed any road in Nigeria before, and it is sure that SAMMYA Nigeria Limited was being used to loot Osun State funds.
“It also is our contention that awarding a N17.8 billion road contract to a company that has never constructed any road before, a company with non-existing head office address, a company that could not pay N23.3 million that it owed Wema Bank last year is to say the least fraudulent!”