The investigation of contracts awarded from 2021 to the present by Mr. Francis Nwosu, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, has been launched by the Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The anti-corruption agencies’ decision to investigate the council could be linked to petitions made last year to the EFCC and ICPC against Nwosu by disgruntled council employees.
The aggrieved staff in the petition last year alleged that: “In 2021, the procurement process for all the projects was a complete charade as it was hijacked by an external body under the directive of the Executive Secretary, manipulated, and failed to meet the due process requirements while the award of contracts was based on cronyism and self-interest.”
In a letter dated June 20, 2023 and bearing the reference number ICPC/OPS/CPTG/114/2023, the ICPC replied to the petition with the subject line “Investigation Activities: Notice of Invitation/Request for Documents/Contact Persons.”
The letter, which is signed H.M. Hassan, Head, CEPTD, was received on June 27, 2023.
The Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, was allegedly violated, according to the commission’s letter that media were able to access.
The letter stated: “Pursuant to Section 28 of the above-cited act, you are hereby requested to direct and release a competent officer to appear before the undersigned at the Commission’s headquarters, Central Business District, Abuja, on 3rd July 2023, at 10:00 hours for interview.
“The designated officer is to come along with documents stated below in respect of the constituency/capital projects hereto attached.
“Contract files for the projects; evidence of payment for the projects; evidence of financial releases from government for the projects; bid documents in respect of the projects v. BOQ/BEME; any other relevant document in respect of the above.”
In addition, the ICPC asked the council to designate and release an officer or officers who are capable of speaking and directing the commission’s field officers in monitoring the projects.
It added: “Your submission in this regard should contain the contact details of the nominated officer(s).”
The Abuja Zonal Command of the EFCC also sent a letter to Nwosu on June 22, 2023, with the following reference number: CR:3000/EFCC/ ABJ/ZN/CT GI-PS2/TA/VOL.04/153, which was received by the council on July 3, 2023.
The anti-graft organisation stated that it was looking into a matter and that “your office” was required to provide explanation immediately.
EFCC said: “In view of the above, you are kindly requested to furnish the following information. List of awarded contracts for the year 2021 till date; the contract files of the companies that were awarded the contracts; any other information that may assist the Commission with its investigation.
‘This request is made pursuant to Section 38 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004. Your cooperation in this regard is highly solicited, please.”
