…As Committee recommends Anyim, Bala Mohammed for prosecution

From Kemi Yesufu, Abuja

The crisis within the House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over investigations into the $18.72 billion Centenary City project has boiled over, with the submission of two conflicting  reports on the matter.

Chairman of the Committee, Herman Hembe, submitted a report he co-signed with the Clerk of Committee, Mukhtar Kusari,  while a ‘Dissenting Report’ signed by a member of the committee, Linus Okorie, was also submitted to Mukhtar yesterday.

The report submitted by Hembe during plenary indicted former Secretary to the Government of the Federal of Nigeria (SGF),   Anyim Pius Anyim, and former FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, with recommendations for both men to be  prosecuted by relevant agencies over alleged breach of extant laws on Public Procurement Act and Presidential directive on the multi-billion naira Centenary City project. The investigation by the House into the project was characterised by controversy with Anyim, accusing Hembe of demanding for a bribe, while Mohammed alleged that he was treated in a disrespectful manner by the Committee.

Other recommendations in the 64-page report laid by Hembe includes that all statutory Rights of Occupancy purportedly revoked by the former FCT Minister in respect of the areas covered by the Centenary City should be retired to the original allottees unconditionally and forthwith, by the current FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello. The committee also stated that, “the implementation of the centenary city project from the beginning to its current status leaves much to be desired. Presidential directives were flouted, relevant laws were violated and contractual obligations were wantonly breached. However, in his 6-page report, Okorie who expressed opposition to prosecution of the former SGF, FCT Minister and Ms. Boma Ozobia and Paul Oki, argued that “the recommendation appears to come from the moon.

The committee did not make any finding as to fraud and did not also allege any. The committee only alleged that conditions were not met,” he noted.

“The committee determined that the only feasible way to do justice and equity to all parties involved in, and affected by the project is to restore them to the status quo ante and cause law enforcement agencies to investigate the circumstances of the project. This reasoning flow from the findings and provide the rationale for the recommendations”.

“As far as the Committee could determine, there was nothing in the portfolio of Centenary City Plc to suggest that the company had the financial capacity to implement a project of USD18,376,660,950.

“As earlier said, the two companies that own Centenary City Plc have a combined share value of N20,000. The former FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed on the basis of this information expressed misgivings as to the financial capacity of the investor in a letter to the then SGF dated April 8, 2014”, the report further read.

The committee argued that “the selection of Centenary Plc as the preferred investor for the project was shrouded in secrecy.”

Giving it’s verdict on Anyim’s role, the Committe in the report said the former SGF “continued to use his office to act on behalf of the investor company even after the company became functional.”

According to the Committee, the former SGF “applied for Certificate of Occupancy on behalf of Centenary City Plc vide letter dated 6th February, 2014 with reference umber SGF.32/S.47/III/. awarded a contract on behalf of Centenary City Plc on 11th June 2013 for the relocation of 330KV DC transmission lines crossing the proposed Centenary City.

This is even as he wrote to the then FCT Minister vide letter dated 3rd December, 2013 with reference number SGF.32/S.47/11 requesting for details of Bank accounts to pay on behalf of Centenary City Plc, the sum of N1,234,747,076 being compensation money to be paid by Centenary City Plc to displaced persons.

However in his 6-page report, Okorie who expressed opposition to prosecution of the former SGF, FCT Minister and Ms. Boma Ozobia and Paul Oki, argued that “the recommendation appears to come from the moon. The committee did not make any finding as to fraud and did not also alleged any. The committee only alleged that conditions were not met,” he noted.

“On the capacity of the investor to implement a project of $18 billion, I am of the opinion that the Committee did not do enough work by undertaking necessary due diligence on ‘Eagle Hills’ or ‘Sheikh Mohammed Alabbar (the chairperson of Eagle Hills) to establish their capacity or otherwise. I recommend that the House should necessarily undertake this due diligence.”

Okorie  emphasised that there was no finding in the Hembe’s report that Senator Anyim acted outside the purview of his official responsibility as the Government Coordinator of the project