The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said it has recovered six undistributed tractors worth N76.6 million which were meant for use by farmers in six local government areas of Bauchi Central Senatorial District.

This was part of efforts of the commission’s on-going tracking of constituency projects across the country.

According to a statement by ICPC’s Spokesperson, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, in Abuja on Thursday, the tractors formed part of a N430 million contract for the supply of pumping machines and other agricultural machinery to farmers in the senatorial district.

She said the contract was awarded in 2015 by the Federal Government as part of Senators’ constituency projects across the country.

Okoduwa said the Constituency Projects Tracking Group (CPTG) team for Bauchi discovered that N76.6 million was paid for the tractors in December 2015 and supplied in March 2016.

“They were supposed to have been distributed for the use of farmers in each of the six local government areas in the senatorial district that includes Misau, Dambam, Ningi, Warji, Darazo and Ganjuwa.

“It was found out that the tractors had obviously not been distributed as required in terms of the contract,” he said.

She further said that in an effort to trace the tractors, Isa Misau, the then Senator under whose auspices the project was included in the budget to be executed by the SDGs office, met with officials of ICPC in Bauchi.

“He claimed in a written statement that the tractors were kept in Yuli village.

“However, the CPTG team did not find any of the tractors there and some of the intended beneficiaries who were interviewed claimed not to have ever seen the tractors in the village as claimed by the senator.

“The senator who was later contacted on telephone by the CPTG team, to ascertain the actual location of the tractors, could not offer any positive explanation during the conversation.

“The CPTG team however gathered through intelligence that the tractors were being hurriedly moved to Ganjuwa local government headquarters and it then proceeded to the place to take custody of them,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CPTG assessment and review of constituency projects across the country is done by ICPC and its partners including Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and Bureau of Public Procurement, among others.

It was aimed at ensuring satisfactory execution of all constituency projects across the country.

Among the recoveries so far made by the team were dialysis machine, ECG monitor, oxygen regulator meant for a cottage hospital in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

“They were recovered from the premises of Mma Obot Foundation, alleged to belong to former senator Godswill Akpabio.”

 

NAN