ICPC arrests director for awarding contract to own company

Ayodele Adesanmi, Abuja - 05.03.2008

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested a Deputy Director in the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Henry Ogundiya, for allegedly awarding a rehabilitation of rural feeder roads contract to a company where he had an interest.

He allegedly awarded the contact when he acted as the Director of Administration in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The suspect, who would be arraigned in court after the completion of investigation, had allegedly used his position to confer corrupt undue advantage on himself which is contrary to Section 9 of ICPC Act, 2000.

The contract sum, which was N22,343,939, was awarded to TAGOG Nigeria Limited. Ogundiya, according to ICPC, had collected 25 per cent mobilisation for the job which is over N5million through a cheque written in his name and paid into his account with one of the old generation banks.

His arrest, ICPC revealed, followed a petition by one of the ministry’s contractors who he had earlier assured of getting the job on a 60/40 sharing ratio but reneged and thereafter awarded it to his own company.