Two ministers have been named in a N2 billion bribery scandal, reportsNewsDay
They are the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbe and the Minister of State in the ministry, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.
The bribery allegations against the ministers revolve round a recent part-payment of N15 billion to contractors owed by the ministry.
The contractors executed projects under the fertilizer subsidy programme, Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS), introduced by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in order to enhance farmers’ access to subsidised fertilizer.
The amount according to Point Blank News is part of a N56 billion debt owed the contractors by the Federal and state governments participating in the programme
Following the release of the money to the ministry, the two ministers called a meeting of all the contractors owed by the ministry in Abuja.
At the meeting, Ogbeh assured that payment would be made in such a way to cover all the contractors owed by the ministry pending the release of more
funds by government.
It was, however, gathered that only three contractors were paid N13 billion leaving in the lurch the rest of the contractors, who were earlier promised payment on pro-rata basis.
A group, Society for Good Governance (SGG), is therefore asking the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC)
to investigate the payment.
