ADR Mechanism: Stakeholders Constitute Committee To Address Issues Arising From Government Contract

Stakeholders comprising of many bodies and agencies under the
auspices of the Stakeholders Committee on Government Contract
Dispute Resolution has decided to hold a National Workshop at the
Abuja Trade and Convention Centre.

The Workshop which is billed for the 7th and 8th of May, 2019,
is aimed at brainstorming and addressing disputes arising from
government contracts.

STAKEHOLDERS CONSTITUTE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT CONTRACT
DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Stakeholders from the public and private sector have come
together to address issues around the resolution of disputes
arising from the award and execution of government contracts in
order to check the perennial issues of abandonment of projects and
cost overrun.

The stakeholders which include the Federal Ministry of
Justice, Ministry of FCT, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Bureau of Public Procurement, Federal Ministry of Works and
Housing, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators,
Nigerian Bar Association, JICAM, etc met on the 28th of
February 2019, under the auspices of the Stakeholders Committee on
Government Contract Dispute Resolution to announce a National
Workshop to be held at the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre on the
7th and 8th of May 2019.

The aim of this Workshop is for major stakeholders in
Nigeria to brainstorm and address how disputes arising from
government contracts can be resolved speedily

The registration fee is N150,000 (One hundred and fifty
thousand Naira) only which covers tea breaks and lunch, workshop
materials and manuals on effective resolution of
conflicts.

The Chairman of the Steering Committee, Mallam Bukhari
Bello, CON (Chairman of FRSC Board), on behalf of the Committee,
invites Company Secretaries, Private Legal Practitioners,
Contractors, Legal Advisers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies
of Government and Dispute Resolution practitioners and the public
to register and attend the workshop.

Signed,
Prince Adetokumbo Kayode, SAN CON
President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Convener

Judge Orders Kawu’s Arraignment on Stretcher over
alleged NBC Fraud

A Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Director-General of
the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Moddibo Kawu, to
appear before it to answer allegations concerning his involvement
in the mismanagement of N2.5 billion seed grant for the Digital
Switch-Over programme of the federal government, even if it is on a
stretcher.

Kawu, who was to be arraigned alongside Lucky Omoluwa and Dipo
Onifade, Chairman of Pinnacle Communications Limited and the Chief
Operating Officer respectively, over their alleged complicity in
the mismanagement of the N2.5 billion seed grant, failed to appear
before Justice F. O. Giwa, claiming to be on admission at the
University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State.

His counsel, A. U. Mustapha, presented a medical certificate to
the court to back the claim, adding that Kawu, who had had a major
surgery 10 years ago had to check into hospital due to issues
arising from the operation.

He said: “He is on admission at the hospital at the moment. He
had a major surgery 10 years ago and I have a medical report from
the University of Ilorin showing why he cannot be here. I ask for
adjournment pending when he will be well enough to attend
court”

Counsel to ICPC, Henry Emore, did not oppose the plea for
adjournment but however asked the court to note the maximum number
of times adjournment can be granted based on the Administration of
Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Justice Giwa, in her ruling adjourned the matter to 17th April,
2019 for arraignment. She also told the defense counsel to produce
Kawu on the said date even if it means bringing him to the court on
a stretcher.

She said, “You must ensure that your client is in court even if
he has to be on a stretcher; I am agreeing to this adjournment
taking into cognizance his health issues, but the trial needs to go
on, you must ensure he is in court next time.”

The judge further ordered ICPC to investigate the medical
certificate and report back to the court.

Kawu, Omoluwa and Onifade are facing a 12-count charge bordering
on abuse of office, money laundering and misleading a public
officer with the intent to defraud the federal government.

The Commission accused Kawu of facilitating the payment of N2.5
billion federal government Digital Switch-Over funds to his friends
and associates which was allegedly converted into personal use in
contravention of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other
Related Offences Act, 2000.

Signed: Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, mni
Spokesperson for the Commission