Ayo Ola
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) on Friday said it has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the alleged fraud, mismanagement of public funds, embezzlement, corruption and sharp practices, against Emostrade Engineering Limited for allegedly abandoning the ₦1.2 billion Ikom Specialist Hospital Project in Ikom Local Government, Cross River State.
Chairman of HEDA, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, in a statement opined that the petition was indispensable following a report made by an online media; ‘Cross-River Watch’ on November 19, 2021, which reported that, “In 2012, the Federal Executive Council approved the sum of ₦1.2bn for the construction of a specialist hospital in Ikom Local Government Area in Cross-River State. But after nine years, the hospital is yet to be opened because the building which was half done is now deteriorating.”
He quoted the online publication to have stated that findings revealed that the contract was allegedly awarded to Emostrade Engineering Limited, a company said to be owned by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) who was the Senate leader at the time the contract was said to have been approved by the Federal Government and his brother, Eta Ndoma-Egba.
Suraju said, that in line with its commitment to protect and promote universally recognized human rights, accountability and environmental justice in Nigeria and Africa, in accordance with international standards, through research and publications, campaigns, human rights education, and empowerment projects and programmes, HEDA has vowed never to keep silent over any action or inaction targeted to deny citizens good governance.
He said, “As an unapologetic enemy of oppression, injustice, and exploitation perpetrated by some persons from different quarters against 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 and prosecute anyone found culpable in this distasteful act of corrupt practices and financial misappropriation which has drastically diminished Nigeria’s reputation internationally, thus we look forward to seeing thorough and positive actions in this matter for the common good of a people.
“As a leading anti-corruption organization in Nigeria and a 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 an injury to all, the fight against bad leadership must be fought head-on.”