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Reps in session
The Public Account Committee, of the House of Representatives , PAC on Wednesday resolved to unmask the real identities of the owners of thecompanies whichhandledcontracts
valuedatthe sum of N18.9bn from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for clearing of bushes,land preparation, rehabilitation of soil plant lab and others during the last COVID-19 lockdown of the country.
The resolution followed the appearance ofrepresentatives of twoof the 20 affected companies at the resumed investigative hearing of the committee on queries to Ministries, Departments and Agencies,MDAs of the federal government by the office of Auditor General of the Federation
The affected companies are: Easy Construction Company LTD and NUKAAG VENTURES LTD respectfully while the remaining 18companies failed to show up.
The Committee being chaired by Hon Woke Oke (PDP- OSUN) said that the two representatives of the Companies (Johnson Philip and Taiwo Idowu), were of the Manageral cadre and as such not competent to appear before the Committee going by the Rules of the House.
Responding to a question posed by the Chairman of the Committee on whether they were familiar with thesubmission submitted to the Committee on the award and execution of the contractors so as not to mislead it, they both said no.
Consequently, the Committee directed the duo to leave immediately and directed that the Managing Directors or Chairmen of the companies should personally appear before it and speak to the submission before the Committee.
In addition, Hon Oke directed the Clerk of the Committee to write to the Registrar of the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC to finish the Committee the detail information of the affected 20 companies, including year of incorporation, Corporate offices, names of the owners, shareholders amongst others.
According to him, " we are not concerned about who won the contracts, what we are after is to deter value for money paid out and the sites of the projects, and we will carry that mission to the letter.
" The Clerk should also write the Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS, to finish the Committee about the financial status of the Companies”.
Hon Oke assured that the Committee would carry out delligent investigation into the matter as it was interested in finding out the location of the projects and the significance of such projects to the country.
