Group Wants $52 Million Imo Hotel Contract Probed

A group, Concerned Imo Citizens has asked the Economic and Financial

Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the abandoned 18 storey hotel complex in

Owerri, the state capital.
 
Chairman of the group, Chief Ceejay Ezebuiro said there was something

strange about the contract, alleging that Bill of Quantity of the contract

was written in Korean language which made it impossible for the engineers

from the state ministry of Works to read.
 
Ezebuiro who is a close associate of Gov. Rochas Okorocha added that the

contract worth $52million has since been abandoned after the contracting

firm; Hanjin Nigeria Limited was mobilized with N1billion.

 
The group boss alleged that the Korean partners of the company have been

deported as they entered Nigeria with visiting visas rather than work

permit.
 
He urged the anti corruption agency to quiz Okorocha's alter ego and

Nigerian shareholder of the firm, Chief Nyerere Anyim to unravel the

reason why the contract was abandoned.
 
According to him, “If Chief Macdonald Akano was quizzed in connection with

the controversial Sam Mbakwe Avenue contract; I wonder why Chief Nyerere

Anyim is untouchable.”
 
Ezebuiro also called on the EFCC to investiagate why a sole

proprietorship, Optimum General Services is being engaged either to

execute or sublet contracts running into billions of Naira in the state,

adding that according to the Act establishing it, a sole proprietorship

cannot execute a contract worth more than N10million.

 
He alleged that the company is not only being awarded contracts running

into billions of naira, but is also engaged in subletting contracts.