Efio-Ita Nyok|16 May 2016|6:30am
Cross River leading public policy analyst, environmental activist and revered whistle blower, Ifere Paul, as part of his ongoing campaign against perceived fraud in the Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade led CRSG especially in regards to the Garment Factory saga last week Thursday 12 May decided to push the argument further by scribbling a petition against the CRSG to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In the said letter of petition, the petitioner, Paul, is alleging that the whooping sum of N2.7 billion of public funds meant for the welfare of Cross Riverians has been misappropriated for the personal estate of Governor Ben Ayade without CRS having any shares in the said limited liability company.
He is therefore praying the antigraft agency to 'investigate this fraud on the People of Cross River State by Governor Ayade, his brother Frank Ayade, Dr Obi-Akatchak, Alphonsus Ogar Eba of A.O Eba & Co of Suite A41, Maitama Shopping Complex, Abuja and Barr Emmanuel Ubua'.
You will recall that former Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Liyel Imoke, is in EFCC net for a similar petition by Okoi Obono-Obla, Special Adviser to the President on Public Prosecution. Reports have it that Imoke has been asked by EFCC to return the sum of N500 million, refusal to which will find him facing an impending jail sentence. Let's watch out, fingers crossed, to see how Paul's petition plays out. But, be rest assured that an interesting feature about Ifere Paul is that he is ready to push the debate further.
12th May, 2016
The Acting Executive Chairman,
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Wuse 2,
Abuja, Federal Capital Territory,
Nigeria.
Sir,
WHEN FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES INVESTIGATING CORRUPTION AND MONEY LAUNDERING IS MADE SIMPLE.
RE: THE FRAUD CALLED CALABAR GARMENT FACTORY IN CALABAR
Further to my avowed commitments to key into the current President Muhammadu Buhari’s change mantra to liberate our country from the epidemic corruption virus, I wish to bring to your notice, knowledge and indeed that of the public the monumental fraud encapsulated in the purportedly owned construction of the CROSS RIVER GARMENT FACTORY in Calabar by Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State.
It will interest you to note that from facts available to me, the Governor Ben AyadeGovernmenthas so far spent through his junior brother MR. FRANK AYADE, who holds no defined public office, more than N2.7 Billion on the GARMENT FACTORY.
By reason of the huge public fund spent through a non-public officer, I became more curious to the so called CROSS RIVER GARMENT FACTORY LTD of Suite A41, Maitama Shopping Complex, FHA, Maitama, Abuja (08065806154)with Registration No RC 1269481.
Sir amazingly, after a search at the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, the following was shockingly revealed.
1. The Certificate of Incorporation of the GARMENT FACTORY RC 1209481 shows that the Factory was incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 on the 23rd of June 2015, about 3 weeks after Ayade became Governor.
2. In spite of the huge state resources so far invested in the construction of the Factory wherein the public is deceived fraudulently to believe that the Factory was owned by the State Government, it is privately owned.
3. The Directors are not Public Officers of the State but Governor Ayade’s friends, relations and personal Solicitors represented thus:
(a) DR EDWARD OTU OBI-AKATCHAK of No 1 Basic School Road, Okundi, Boki, Cross River State;
(b) BARR. UBUA EMMANUEL of No 75 Market Road Obudu, Cross River State.
(c) The Shareholding is that of private relations of Governor Ayade represented thus:
(i) DR OBI-AKATCHAK N1, 500, 000 ordinary shares
(ii) BARR. UBUA EMMANUEL N1, 500,000 ordinary shares
Sir the Cross River State Governmentwhose Billions of Naira are invested into the project holds no shares whatsoever in the said Calabar Garment Factory.
I wish also to draw your attention to the fact that the cost of the project was not publicly displayed. But investigation revealed that over N2.7billion has been spent on this project already.
It is pertinent to note that there are no bills of quantities for the project. Also there is no budgetary provision for the project.
Sir, more alarming is the fact that few years ago, the NDDC awarded a similar project to Senator Ayade on the 20th of February, 2014 at the cost of 150,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira only). The project was to be sited at Ogoja.
Two years have gone by and yet no ground-breaking for the Ogoja Project. However two years after, Senator Ayade is constructing the same garment factory which was awarded for the above stated amount before for N2.7 Billion.
Sir, even if inflation is calculated at 300% and forex falls by 1000%, the cost of a Garment Factory 4times the size of the Cross River State Garment Factory cannot cost 2.7 Billion just two years after.
PRAYER
It is for these reasons and many more, that I write this Petition.
Sir, my honest appeal is for you to use your good offices to investigate this fraud on the People of Cross River State by Governor Ayade, his brother Frank Ayade, Dr Obi-Akatchak, Alphonsus Ogar Eba of A.O Eba & Co of Suite A41, Maitama Shopping Complex, Abuja and Barr.Emmanuel Ubua.
The attached photocopy of the documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission speaks volumes of the complained fraud.
IFERE PAUL
(PETITIONER)
Efio-Ita Nyok
Editor
Negroid Haven
Negroidhaven.org
