N1.6bn NEMA Scam: Reps To Invite Osinbajo, Magu

A House of Representatives panel currently investigating the alleged violation of public trust by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has stated that it will invite the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
Osinbajo is the current board chairman of NEMA, which has already suspended six of its directors.
During a public hearing yesterday by the House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, the committee also decided to summon Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Winifred Oyo-Ita, head of civil service.
The House of Representatives had last Wednesday accused Diretor General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Engr Mustapha Maihaja of mismanaging N1.6bn released to him by the Federal Government in July 2017 for relief intervention to flood victims in 16 states.
The sum was said to have been expended on contracts awarded to 216 companies that were not qualified for contract awards in the country.
However, at the investigative hearing of the House yesterday, the committee was informed that the 6,779 metric tonnes of Chinese rice, which arrived in July, 2017 in 271 containers stayed uncleared in the ports for 6 months before NEMA could get documents to commence the clearing process on December 4.
The DG said though 161 million naira has been spent in addition to the 400 million naira on transportation, delivery and logistics, the agency could not confirm that the rice has been received and accepted by the IDPs.
He also added that out of the 271 containers, only 110 have so far been cleared and taken to the north east.
But the lawmakers maintained that that was not an excuse for the breach of extant laws that guide procurement in Nigeria, and that it is curious that in spite of not meeting requirements, the agency was bent on awarding it to Olam and Three Brothers, when other competent companies could have been engaged.