Alleged N2bn contract scam: EFCC presents 12th witness against Oronsaye

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has presented the
12th prosecution witness, Garba Yusuf, against the former Head of
Service of the Federation, Stephen Oronsanye, before Justice I.E.
Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Yusuf, a retired civil servant and former Deputy Director and
Head of Procurement Department while Oronsanye was HoS, testified
on Monday as Oronsanye faces trial for N2bn fraud case involving
alleged illegal contract awards.

The EFCC, via its online
platform^[1], says it is
prosecuting Oronsanye along with the managing director, Fredrick
Hamilton Global Services Limited, Osarenkhoe Afe, both of whom are
alleged to be involved in several illegal contract awards amounting
to the said sum during Oronsanye’s tenure as HoS.

While being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, O. A.
Atolagbe, the PW12 stated that his department was responsible for
overseeing the execution of various contracts in the Office of the
Head of Service and added that there were laid down procedures
before a contract was awarded to any contractor.

“Once a request was identified for supply or service,
advertisements are made to call in qualified contractors.

“A bid process is carried out to ascertain suitably qualified
contractors, who would have scored on technicality and
financials.

“After presentations are made and evaluation is done, the
responses are forwarded to the HoS for approval.

“After my retirement in 2014, I was approached by the EFCC and
questioned in regards to a letter of award for N2bn and I told them
that all awards for contracts were done in line of the directives
from Bureau of Public Procurement, although the BPP grants the
contractors a certificate authenticating the contract and the
contractor after a job is completed.

“The BPP also issues out a letter of completion, however, the
HoS reserves the right to re-advertise any job that has not been
completed,” he stated.

According to him, “in the case of the award letters, which was
Prosecution Witness 3 exhibit, the award letters dated July 5, 2010
for contract of data biometrics that was meant for the capturing of
pensioners in the 36 states of the federation; the vouchers were
raised and payment made to several companies, including N161m paid
to Innovative Solutions, a company that bid the contract; adding
that the beneficiaries were paid after a schedule of payment had
been made.

“I was, however, not aware of the payment for enrolment for
biometrics as these contracts were not processed through my office,
even though I was still the Director of Procurement as of that
time.

“Bearing in mind that all contracts are channeled to the
Procurement Department for proper capturing”, PW12 stated.

During cross-examination of the PW12 by the defence counsel, Joe
Agi and counsel for Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services,
Limited, Oluwole Aladedoye, it was inquired if PW12 was the
accounting officer of the project and if he knew that the contract
was extended and each extension attracted cost for works and
resources.

However, PW12 told the court that he has never seen the award
letter and that the Procurement Department follows due processes
before tendering a bid and awarding contracts, “so, there was no
way, I would not have been in the know”, he stated.

Justice Ekwo adjourned the case till October 22 (today) for
continuation of trial.

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