A non-governmental organization (NGO), the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to as a matter of national interest investigate a civil engineering firm for allegedly abandoning the ₦1.2 Billion Ikom Specialist Hospital Project situated in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The group alleged in its petition to the EFCC that the firm, ‘Emostrade Engineering Limited’, abandoned the public project uncompleted as a result of misappropriation.
A statement by the Chairman of the organization, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, stressed that the petition became necessary and indispensable following a report made public by an online medium; ‘Cross-River Watch’ on November 19, 2021, which revealed that, “In 2012, the Federal Executive Council approved the sum of ₦1.2 billion for the construction of a Specialist Hospital in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross-River State”.
It further noted that after nine years, the hospital is yet to be opened just as the building which was half completed is deteriorating.
Suraju also said that the newspaper’s findings revealed that the contract was awarded to Emostrade Engineering Limited, a company believed to be owned by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, who was the Senate Leader and his brother, Eta Ndoma-Egba as at the time the contract was awarded by the Federal Government.
According to Suraju, it was in line with his organization’s (HEDA) commitment to the protect and promotion of universally recognized human rights, accountability and environmental justice in Nigeria and Africa, International standards, through research and publications, campaigns, human rights education and empowerment projects and programmes, that it vowed not to keep silent over any infarction that will deny the citizens the opportunity of enjoying the benefits of good governance.
HEDA further said; “As an unapologetic enemy of oppression, injustice and exploitation perpetuated by some persons from different quarters against the Citizens of this country, we have called on the executive chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to diligently investigate the above allegations in line with its mandate. “The EFCC should prosecute anyone found culpable in this distasteful act of corrupt practices and financial misappropriation which has drastically diminished Nigeria’s reputation internationally.
“We look forward to seeing a thorough and positive actions in this matter for the common good of a people.
“As a leading Anti-Corruption Organization in Nigeria, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and Non-partisan Human Rights and Development league, we call on Nigerians (no matter our spheres of operations) to join forces in the fight against maladministration and mismanagement of Public resources, hence; injury to one is injury to all, the fight against bad leadership must be fought head-on,” HEDA said.
