The acting chairman of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has defended the
agency’s N24 billion new office, brushing aside criticisms about the huge cost,
and claiming it is a modest amount for a building that should cost N100 billion.
A visibly angry Mr Magu on
Wednesday took strong exception to the scrutiny that followed the EFCC’s
completion of the new headquarters in Abuja.
The 10-floor building is about 95
per cent completed as at May 9, and is expected to serve as the operating base
for the anti-graft body.
Politicians have hailed the
completion, but anti-corruption campaigners and other citizens are instead
keeping their eyes on the cost, especially coming at a time that the agency
itself is complaining of poor funding that hampers its basic operations.
“You are not being fair,” Mr Magu
said when asked to respond to the controversies around the N24 billion price
Wednesday. “If you go and bring any valuer, they will value it for not less
than N100 billion.”
Mr Magu took a select group of
journalists on a tour of the building Wednesday afternoon, during which he took
questions which were restricted to the new building. The anti-graft chief
refused to take questions about his own activities or those of the EFCC in
recent months.
The tour is part of ongoing
efforts to raise public awareness to the building before formal opening by
President Muhammadu Buhari on May 15.
He explained the cumbersome and
expensive procurement process that culminated in the successful execution of
the new head office, located at about 12 kilometres southwest of Abuja’s
Central Business District.
“That shows prudence, that shows
transparency,” Mr Magu said.
Suspicions have escalated within
the past two weeks when Mr Magu began gloating about the building, which was
built by construction firm, Julius Berger.
The acting EFCC chairman told The
Nation last month he was “excited that the headquarters is ready for use” and
placed it at an offhand price of N24 billion.
“I will crosscheck to give you
the exact figure,” he added.
The skepticism that ensued
following the revelation last month gained traction online Tuesday after the
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, led other lawmakers on a tour of the facility.
Mr Saraki praised Mr Magu and his
last two predecessors for putting in their best to complete the building for
the agency, which was established in 2003.
The agency has been renting
offices and official quarters for most of its staff at its branches across the
country, including in Abuja where hundreds are currently putting up in rented
apartment.
On November 24, 2010, Yayale
Ahmed, then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, proposed the new
building to the Federal Executive Council and later got an initial release of
N18 billion for it.
A few weeks later, Sahara
Reporters published concerns about how Julius Berger won a ‘no objection’
procurement certificate to build the office, alongside a slew of other
allegedly questionable contracts award by President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet
at the time.
The new office includes a
mid-size parking facility, three detached buildings, including a clinic, a
generator house and a 33KV step-down transformer station.
Martin Obono, an Abuja-based
anti-corruption campaigner, said the EFCC has no justification for spending N24
billion on a single office at the expense of not only the taxpayers but also
some of its staff.
“It is not feasible that N24
billion would have been spent on that building,” Mr Obono said. “It is too
expensive for a so-called anti-corruption agency.”
Mr Obono said the EFCC could
build a befitting office for its operations in each of the 36 states at the
price of N24 billion, especially since hundreds of staff members operating away
from the head office in Abuja would still be putting up with offices that are
not conducive.
“Over the past few months, we
have heard the EFCC raise alarm about how poor funding is hindering its
operations,” Mr Obono said. “So why should the same agency spend such a
humongous amount on an office complex that would only occupy a few people.”
Several departments and
directorates are expected to be moved to the new office, but several others
will not have accommodation.
Mr Magu confirmed this and said
the EFCC would still keep its current head office along Adetokunbo Ademola
Crescent in Wuse II as an annex. Furthermore, some Abuja-based staff members
who are currently working out of leased buildings and living in rented quarters
would continue to do so for the near future because the new building cannot
accommodate everyone.
“Clearly, this building cannot
return the N24 billion value Nigerians paid for it,” Mr Obono said. “We cannot
use corruption to fight corruption.”
He demanded that the EFCC publish
its books in relations to the building, especially procurement dossiers.
“Mr Magu must publish the full
details of how the money was spent and not think Nigerians are foolish or that
they are not paying attention to the suspicious activities going on in an
agency that should be curbing financial crimes,” the activist added.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com