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Kwara Hotel: Anti-Corruption Group Drags Kwara Govt, Contractors To EFCC
The group raised concerns over the economic rationale behind such hefty spending
Ilorin, Kwara State– An anti-corruption group, the Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD), on Monday, filed a petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the Kwara State Government and the contractors involved in the Kwara Hotel contract.
This was contained in a statement signed by Director of Investigation and Public Petition, Comrade Gambari Volvo, stated the need for transparency and accountability in public spending, particularly in projects of such magnitude
In a petition submitted by the Coordinator, Alagbonsi Abdullateef, dated April 15, 2024, and addressed to the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The group submitted a petition outlining seven (7) key justifications. These include the abrupt discontinuation of a previous contract award process, disregard for a company offering a cheaper contract sum, identical project descriptions for both companies, evaluation of the market value of Kwara Hotel, both companies self-funding the project, mechanisms for recovering invested funds, and the project completion periods.
“In the 3-point prayers of ENetSuD to the EFCC, the organization requested the EFCC to conduct a thorough investigation on the following issues: (i) The compliance of the KWSG with the procurement law of the State concerning the Kwara Hotel’s contracting process, which is shrouded in secrecy.
“The economic benefit of spending a sum of ₦ 17,832,568,698.01 to renovate a hotel valued at ₦ 3,950,000,000 in October 2017 and ₦ 5,427,400,000 in July 2022; and (iii) The genuine and public interest-driven motivation of the KWSG, if any, to disregard a company that offered to execute the project under concession model with about 3 billion naira and abruptly switch to another company that is now executing the project at a contract sum of ₦ 17,832,568,698.01.
ENetSuD want EFCC to probe the expenditure of ₦17,832,568,698.01 allegedly used to renovate a hotel valued at ₦3,950,000,000 in October 2017, and ₦5,427,400,000 in July 2022.
The group raised concerns over the economic rationale behind such hefty spending, questioning the disparity between the initial hotel value and the renovation cost.
The anti-corruption group also highlighted the abrupt switch from a company offering to execute the project under a concession model for about ₦3 billion to another company now undertaking the project at a contract sum of ₦17,832,568,698.01.
The group, therefore, urged the anti-graft agency to thoroughly investigate the matter to ascertain if any misappropriation of funds occurred and to ensure that the interests of the public are protected.