Amaechi, ex-PDP chair Haliru, Umar to appear before Reps panel over alleged N1.69 trn contract fraud

MINISTER of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, the Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) Seyi Sijuwade, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Mohammed Bello Haliru and former Minister of Transport, Idris Umar have been summoned by the House of Representatives to appear before the Ad hoc Committee on Failed Rail Contracts on Tuesday to explain what they know in an alleged N1.69 trillion rail contracts scam.

Recall that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara had at the beginning of an investigative hearing last December to probe the Ministry of Transport and the NRC on the award of Contracts for Rehabilitation of Rail Tracks, Maintenance of Bridges and Procurement/Rehabilitation of Coaches and Locomotives, vowed that the Eighth Assembly will not spare any Nigerian, no matter how highly placed, found to be involved in the alleged fraudulent activities and the N1.69 trillion contracts scam in Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and other officials of the ministry who were expected to give details on the contract at the commencement of the session were absent.

However, the stakeholders, it was gathered at the weekend, have been invited again by appear before the panel headed by the Ehoizuwa Agbonayinma (PDP) to tell the members all that they know in the alleged appropriation of the rail contracts during the resumed investigative hearing scheduled to take place at the national assembly.

Chairman of the committee Agbonayinma confirmed that the minister and all the other stakeholders have again been duly informed by the committee and each of them is expected to appear on Tuesday.

When asked why he invited the Minister of Transport when he is barely three months old in office, Agbonayinma said: “Rotimi Amaechi, was also invited to tell us all he knows, though he just assumed office, but you know government is a continuum.

This 8th House is 100 percent in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s crusade against any form of corruption.We are not out to witch hunt anybody but anyone found wanting in the course of this investigative hearing will be exposed although as you are aware not until it is proven by a competent court that such persons are guilty you can’t say they are guilty.”

Two former Chairmen of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Bamanga Tukur, Kawu Baraje and a former Senator Ladan Shuni, who appeared before the committee in December, 2015 denied knowledge of any contracts awarded by them whilst they superintended over the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) from 2010 to 2014 as Board Chairmen respectively at different periods.