A coalition of 200 Civil Societies across Edo and Delta state under the auspices of The Common  Good Letter has   petitioned anti-graft agencies  demanding  an urgent  independent investigation into  payment of  N14 billion to Hartland Nigeria Limited for the construction of 11-kilometer road project extending from Summit Junction in Asaba, Delta State, to the Onitsha Head Bridge.

The Petition signed by the Publisher of the Group Revd David Ugolo was addressed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),  Code of Conduct Bureau,  Bureau of Public Procurement, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice — Federal Ministry of Justice

The group is requesting an urgent, independent and coordinated investigation into serious allegations concerning the award, financing, execution and supervision of the approximately 11-kilometre road project extending from Summit Junction in Asaba, Delta State, to the Onitsha Head Bridge.

This petition followed  public statements reportedly made by the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, during an inspection of the road and adjoining bridge infrastructure in August 2026, stating that Hartland Nigeria Limited had received approximately ₦14 billion under an agreement requiring it to complete the 11-kilometre road, including channelisation and hydraulic structures.

The minister during the inspection had said the project was 40 percent completed and called for the arrest of the company’s Managing Director,

The group during a press conference yesterday in Abuja raised concern over the statement by the minister  and demanded a professional investigation into the  contracts, procurement records, payment documents, engineering measurements, bank guarantees and evidence obtained from all affected parties.

Ugolo clarified that the petition does not in any way allege that the construction company and its directors, public officer,  any other person involved in the contract  has committed any offence, but that they demand competent authorities to determine the facts and take lawful action where the evidence establishes wrongdoing.

The group is demanding for establishment of the full identity  and reference number of the contract, confirm the date of the original award, procurement method, approving authority and there original contract sum; Verify the precise scope of work, including the road sections, channelisation, drainage and hydraulic structures covered by the contract.

“Determine whether the procurement was supported by an appropriation, procurement plan, competitive process and Certificate of No Objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement, where required; Identify every supplementary agreement, variation, extension, review or renegotiation that altered the scope, price or completion period; determine whether the contractor satisfied the technical, financial, personnel and equipment requirements for the contract.

The group also called for the establishment of  the exact amount paid, rather than relying on the approximate amount mentioned publicly; identify the dates, purposes and authorising instruments for every payment; determine whether payments represented mobilisation, interim certificates, reimbursement, variations or other contractual obligations.

It further called for verification of payment certificates, measurements, approvals and budgetary authority supporting each payment and  urged the authorities to identify engineers, consultants, project managers, accounting officers and other officials involved in measuring the work, preparing and approving payment certificates, supervising the project and assessing its performance.

It called for an independent engineering and quantity-surveying assessment to determine the percentage, quality and monetary value of work completed, compliance with approved designs and specifications, the condition of drainage and hydraulic structures and the cost of completing the project.

The coalition said the independent assessment should be reconciled with the minister’s reported 40 per cent completion figure to determine whether the Federal Government received value corresponding to the amount paid.
It also asked investigators to examine advance-payment guarantees, performance bonds, insurance policies and other securities attached to the contract, including whether such guarantees remained valid when non-performance was identified.

The petition urged the EFCC to trace and reconcile all payments connected with the project, obtain relevant bank records and examine possible fraud, false certification, diversion, conspiracy or money laundering where supported by evidence.

The ICPC was asked to investigate the conduct of public officers involved in procurement, supervision, certification and payment, while the CCB was urged to examine any evidence of conflicts of interest involving public officers. They called on the BPP to conduct a procurement-compliance review of the contract and all variations, while asking the Attorney-General of the Federation to provide legal guidance and coordinate any related investigations.

On the minister’s call for the arrest of the contractor’s managing director, the coalition said any arrest should be carried out only by a legally empowered law-enforcement agency and based on reasonable grounds saying the presumption of innocence, right to legal representation and other constitutional protections should be respected.

The group also urged that any investigation should extend beyond the contractor to public officials, consultants and financial institutions involved in approving, certifying, processing or securing payments and requested the immediate preservation of contract and procurement documents, payment certificates, bank records, guarantees, project designs, measurement books, laboratory reports, inspection reports, correspondence and other evidence relating to the project.

The coalition further requested recovery of any funds established to have been unearned, fraudulently obtained or improperly paid, as well as enforcement of valid guarantees and bonds.

It called for prosecution of anyone against whom sufficient admissible evidence of an offence was established and appropriate disciplinary action against public officers found to have acted negligently or dishonestly.

The group also urged the authorities to ensure completion or emergency remediation of the road through a transparent and technically credible process. They requested a written acknowledgement of the petition and a case reference number within seven working days, as well as public confirmation within 30 days that the allegations were receiving official attention.

The coalition said the investigation should ultimately establish whether the approximately N14 billion reportedly paid was properly authorised, properly certified and matched by work of corresponding value.

The  group said, “The Minister’s public statement provides a basis for investigation, but it is not itself proof of criminal liability adding that the appropriate response was to follow the contract, follow the money, examine the certificates, establish responsibility and apply the law fairly to both private actors and public officials.”