‘N20b fraud’: EFCC quizzes ex-UBEC boss Dikko, others

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives have
quizzed a former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic
Education Commission (UBEC), Mallam Suleiman Dikko, for alleged
N20billion fraud.

Also grilled were contractors and top directors of UBEC,
including those in charge of Finance and Procurement.

Dikko’s and some contractors’ passports have been impounded “to
ensure unhindered investigation”.

The probe, said a source, who pleaded not to be named, is to
unravel how funds meant for primary education and Unity Schools
were either diverted or converted to private use.

“The fraud involves over N20 billion, allegedly siphoned through
the purchase of science and technical equipment and MDGs’ books for
some 104 Unity Schools between September 2012 and 2014.”

The Principals of the “beneficiary schools” denied receiving the
books and equipment listed against their schools, it was
learnt.

“They claimed that they only received between 20 to 30 per cent
of the equipment and books purportedly delivered to their schools,
whereas the contractors were paid in full,” the source said.

Some former executive secretaries and directors of the
commission have been quizzed.

There are indications that the N20billion contract scam is part
of the cases for which the anti-graft commission is investigating
Dikko.

Another source said: “The ongoing probe of UBEC has many
dimensions. We have also discovered many contracts duly paid for
but abandoned between 2012 and 2014. Some fake contracts were
awarded in order to acquire slush funds for purposes known only to
the former UBEC Secretary and the accomplice directors.

“There were also reckless awards of contracts under the guise of
constituency projects between 2012 and 2014.

“For instance, many unexecuted constituency projects were
awarded by UBEC to some companies owned by some members of the
National Assembly.

“Some of these projects have been traced to a principal officer
of the House of Representatives.”

The projects in UBEC are: One block of three classrooms at Eru
Primary School, Igbide (N9,180,835.45); one block of three
classrooms at Ivori Primary School, Isoko (N9,887,778);
construction of three classrooms at Egburie Primary School, Ozoro;
and construction of six classrooms on January 21, 2016 at Olordo
Primary School, Ozoro (N9, 300,000).

The others are: supply of customised library equipment to
selected schools in Isoko North Local Government Area at
N16,050,000; Supply of instructional materials in Isoko North
/South Federal Constituency(N14, 650,000); supply of customised
equipment to selected schools in Isoko Federal Constituency(N15,
950,000); rehabilitation of six classrooms at Egware Primary
School, Ozoro (N9,200,928,90); and construction of six classrooms
and toilets as well as supply of furniture at Itebighe Primary
School (N12, 988.099.23).

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives have
quizzed a former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic
Education Commission (UBEC), Mallam Suleiman Dikko, for alleged
N20billion fraud.

Also grilled were contractors and top directors of UBEC,
including those in charge of Finance and Procurement.

Dikko’s and some contractors’ passports have been impounded “to
ensure unhindered investigation”.

The probe, said a source, who pleaded not to be named, is to
unravel how funds meant for primary education and Unity Schools
were either diverted or converted to private use.

“The fraud involves over N20 billion, allegedly siphoned through
the purchase of science and technical equipment and MDGs’ books for
some 104 Unity Schools between September 2012 and 2014.”

The Principals of the “beneficiary schools” denied receiving the
books and equipment listed against their schools, it was
learnt.

“They claimed that they only received between 20 to 30 per cent
of the equipment and books purportedly delivered to their schools,
whereas the contractors were paid in full,” the source said.

Some former executive secretaries and directors of the
commission have been quizzed.

There are indications that the N20billion contract scam is part
of the cases for which the anti-graft commission is investigating
Dikko.

Another source said: “The ongoing probe of UBEC has many
dimensions. We have also discovered many contracts duly paid for
but abandoned between 2012 and 2014. Some fake contracts were
awarded in order to acquire slush funds for purposes known only to
the former UBEC Secretary and the accomplice directors.

“There were also reckless awards of contracts under the guise of
constituency projects between 2012 and 2014.

“For instance, many unexecuted constituency projects were
awarded by UBEC to some companies owned by some members of the
National Assembly.

“Some of these projects have been traced to a principal officer
of the House of Representatives.”

The projects in UBEC are: One block of three classrooms at Eru
Primary School, Igbide (N9,180,835.45); one block of three
classrooms at Ivori Primary School, Isoko (N9,887,778);
construction of three classrooms at Egburie Primary School, Ozoro;
and construction of six classrooms on January 21, 2016 at Olordo
Primary School, Ozoro (N9, 300,000).

The others are: supply of customised library equipment to
selected schools in Isoko North Local Government Area at
N16,050,000; Supply of instructional materials in Isoko North
/South Federal Constituency(N14, 650,000); supply of customised
equipment to selected schools in Isoko Federal Constituency(N15,
950,000); rehabilitation of six classrooms at Egware Primary
School, Ozoro (N9,200,928,90); and construction of six classrooms
and toilets as well as supply of furniture at Itebighe Primary
School (N12, 988.099.23).