… as Committee recommends prosecution of former SGF, FCT minister, others
The last is yet to be heard on the controversies trailing the Centenary City project, valued at over $18.72 billion.
Currently, the House of Representatives is with two reports co-signed by Herman Hembe, chairman, and Mukhtar Kusari, clerk of House Committee on FCT, while a ‘Dissenting report’ signed by Linus Okorie was also submitted for the consideration of the House.
According to Hembe’s report, Anyim Pius Anyim, former secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and Bala Mohammed, former FCT minister, were recommended for prosecution by relevant agencies over alleged breach of extant laws on Public Procurement Act and Presidential directive on multi-billion naira Centenary City project.
The recommendations were contained in 64-page report laid by Herman Hembe, chairman, House Committee on FCT, during Thursday plenary session, though not listed on the Order Paper.
However, in his 6-page report, Okorie, who opposed the prosecution of the former SGF, FCT minister, Boma Ozobia and Paul Oki, argued, “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.
“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.”
He maintained that there was finding in the Hembe’s report that Senator Anyim acted outside the purview of his official responsibility as the Government Coordinator of the project, adding that the former FCT Minister undertake his duties according to his convictions and I at any point in time,” Okorie said in the report.
The Committee which frowned at various breaches in the implementation of the Centenary City project, recommended 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 back to the original allottees unconditionally and forthwith by the present FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello.
The Committee observes “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.
“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,” the report co-signed by Hembe and Mukhtar Kusari, clerk of the FCT Committee read.
The office of the SGF as main driver of the Centenary City project during the hearing, denied knowledge of hr financial consideration of the project for which private investors was sourced.
“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 $18,376,660,950.
“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 committee argued, “the selection of Centenary Plc as the preferred investor for the project was shrouded in secrecy.”
While analysing Anyim’s role, expressed concern why 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, 2024 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. 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.
