Kure’s brother quizzed over contracts

Dipo Laleye, Minna - 25.02.2008

A younger brother of the former Niger State governor, Alhaji Abdulkhadir Kure, Abdulhamid Salihu Jantabo, at the weekend appeared before the judicial commission of inquiry looking into the contracts awarded by the last administration in the state.

The commission had earlier declared Jantabo wanted after he allegedly failed to appear to testify in a case involving his company, Green Circle Nigeria Limited.

The company had been awarded contract for the supply of three water boats for which payment was fully made but only one of the boats which was later reportedly cannibalised by officials of the Niger State Transport Authority supplied, was supplied.

During his appearance at the weekend, he said he was not aware he had been summoned by the commission since he was not in the country.

The witness also told the Justice Aliyu Maiyaki-led panel that he collected the total contract sum of N32.7 million, but that the money was paid in instalments which did not give him the opportunity to execute the contract according to the time specifications.

Jantabo said purchase of water boats was not like any other commodity that one could just pick up from the shelf, adding that responsibility for the failed contract should be shared between him and officials of the Ministry of Finance which failed to keep to their part of the contract.

In answer to a question from a member of the commission, the witness said he had made arrangements for the remaining two water boats to be supplied within the next one month.

The commission had so far received evidence from about 52 witnesses some of whom were civil servants involved in the award of or monitoring of the execution of contracts and visited on inspection sites of abandoned projects.

The commission continues its sitting this week.