Firm petitions EFCC over N35m fraud

AN indigenous civil and building engineering firm, Platinum Projects Limited, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to help it recover N35 million paid to the board members of the Federal Civil Service Staff with Disabilities Multipurpose Corporative Society (FCSWDMPCS) for the rehabilitation centres across the country for persons with disabilities.

The Head, Business Development of the company, Endy Nwogu, in a petition to the board members of the FCSWDMPCS, said that his company was informed of the society’s advertisement for expression of interest to establish rehabilitation centres for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and its associated cost of N10 million for N1.4 billion project and N5 million for N700 million project.

This proposition was, indeed, doubtful but we reluctantly proceeded, paying the required N5million price tag and thereafter, received an award letter for the establishment of a rehabilitation centre for the PWDs in Enugu State, tagged phase 9 to the tune of N700, 000,000.00 dated 18th of June, 2014.

Upon receipt of the award letter, we satisfied all requirements as indicated including obtaining Advance Payment Guaranty (APG) from the bank which is a condition precedent to the release of the 15 per cent mobilization fee.”

Three months after receipt of the award letter and satisfaction of all requirements, we were unable to be mobilized which prompted my request for a meeting with the National Coordinating Chairman/Chief ExecutiveOfficer of the Society, Alhaji Abdul-Rauf Olanrewaju Iliasu, where he doused all my initial suspicion and authenticity of the project and assured me that we will be mobilized before the end of October, 2014.

With the assurance and confirmation of the National Coordinating Chairman/CEO, my organization paid another N10 million for a N1.4 billion contract and thereafter received another award letter for the establishment of a centre in Imo State – Phase B1 to the tune of N1.4 billion dated 3rd of October, 2014.” “Again all conditions were met, including obtaining an Advance Payment Guaranty (APG) from the bank which all comes with a cost,’’ he said.

Nwogu noted that a few weeks later, Iliasu invited him and expressed delight with his company and informed him that most of the companies who expressed interests in the projects supported their applications with fake documents which led to their disqualification.

He said the society’s Chairman also informed him of the body’s intention to involve some Chinese companies in the project, stressing that the Society’s Chairman later offered to award additional 10 contracts to his organization if the company could make a payment of N100 million. “He also volunteered to invite me for a meeting in New York on November 20, 2014, where he intends introducing me to the Nigerian Deputy Permanent Representative in the United Nations.”

After a review of his proposition during our management meeting, we decided to take additional two more N1.4 billion contracts and paid the associated N20 million fees with the intention of taking more after receiving the various mobilization fees.“We received the award letters for the two additional contracts for Akwa Ibom Phase A2 and Cross River State Phase A6 on October 23, 2014.

Thus far, we have paid the sum of N35 million representing (3) N1.4 billion contract and (1) N700 million contract, satisfied all the necessary conditions including the advance payment guaranty (APG) without any mobilization from the Cooperative Society.” “Our first advance payment with a 180-day tenure expired first week of January, 2015,’’ he said.

The firm boss said that his discovery in New York showed a sharp contrast to all his representations in Nigeria and could only but conclude that his submission had been full of deceit.

I have expressly communicated to him of my organization’s decision to pull out and request for immediate refund of all monies paid thus far. “We have taken this decision to chronicle the above to you, firstly, to bring you to the knowledge of the antecedent of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and secondly, seek for your urgent assistance in the recovery of our money without further delays,’’ he added.

Nwogu, however, noted that his company attended a meeting of the board of FCSWDMPCS, which held on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at the Women Development Centre in Abuja.