Group Petitions EFCC Against Corrupt Practices In NASENI, Demands Prosecution Of Executive Vice-Chairman

NASENI EVC, Prof. M. S. Haruna

The Corrupt Practices Eradication Organisation of Nigeria (COPEON) has petitioned to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the Executive Vice Chairman of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna, over alleged “monumental acts of corruption and fraudulent research product claims”.

COPEON urged the EFCC to prosecute Prof Haruna over his activities during his first six years tenure as the chief executive of NASENI.

COPEON made their petition through their counsel, Abubakar Animiokhali &Co, in a five-page petition and backed with another eight-page supporting documents.

COPEON, through their counsel, Abubakar Animiokhali &Co, urged the anti-graft agency to prosecute Prof Haruna over his activities during his first six years tenure as the chief executive of NASENI.

They contended that there were alleged widespread fraudulent activities under the management of Prof. Haruna which included splitting of contracts, award of contracts without approval and outright award of fake or none existent contracts.

COPEON cited an alleged award of contract valued at N45 million to PREOMS Global Service Ltd, for the consultancy services on the architectural design, bill of quatity and drawing for the establishment of solar cells production line/training center and construction of administrative block at NASENI Solar Energy Ltd, Karsh, Abuja as one of the numerous contracts awarded by Prof Haruna without the necessary approvals.

According to COPEON, a good case of the award of a non-existent contract was the award of N49.989 million contract to HEEZEEM General Merchant Ltd for the provision of consultancy services on feasibility study and report on the availability of location, quality and quantity of Silva for local production of solar cells in Nigeria.

The group noted that “research is known worldwide to be the key to the development of any nation” warning that if Nigeria is to develop, “it’s research institutions should be cleansed of the scourge of corruption to ensure that they achieve their mandates, devoid of all the encumbrances that are the attendant consequences of corruption”.

In the petition signed by Valentine Obiajulu Esq, and received by the EFCC last May, 2018, the group alleged widespread financial irregularities in the award of contracts up to the tune of over N480 million and another €110,000 (about N49.5 million).

According to the group, the EVC of NASENI, engaged in “detestable and fraudulent” acts in the award and execution of contracts as well as splitting of contracts.

COPEON alleged that NASENI had under the watch of Prof Haruna in 2015, deceived President Muhammadu Buhari and presented him with a 5KW Kinetic hydro turbine for electricity generation to Gada Hamlet in Akwanga local council of Nasarawa State, as a research product of the agency.

The group stated in the petition to the anti-graft agency that the turbine was imported at the cost of N8.5 million while the original owners of the turbine is Smart Hydro Power of Germany and it’s representatives in Nigeria.

COPEON also alleged that NASENI under Prof Haruna deceived Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, into commissioning an unmanned area vehicle (UAV) at the Eagle Square last March as a research product of the agency.

It stated in the petition that the UAV “was a product of amusement, developed from imported toys by a roadside craftsman in Delta State which Prof Haruna shamelessly linked to PEEMADI, Okenne as a research achievements of NASENI”.

The anti-corruption crusader also alleged that last November, NASENI under Prof Haruna, awarded a contract for the supply of a helicopter to one Mr Thierry Blanchart of Dynali Helicopter company at the cost of €110,000. The group however regretted that the helicopter is yet to be supplied even though the specified period for the contract was 13 weeks.

Another allegation COPEON wants the EFCC to look into is the ” embezzlement” of the sum of N24.705 million paid to Hashmite Global Technology Limited meant for the supply of complementary wood working machines for SOMMEDI, Nasarawa State.

The group noted that apart from the machines donated to NASENI by the Japanese government, no we additional wood working machines were acquired by Prof Haruna.

COPEON also alleged that due process was not followed in the bidding process for many of the contracts as “many of the contracts awarded by Prof Haruna were fraudulently split”

“It will be apropos to conduct thorough scrutiny of the mode of selecting these consultants, their scope and relevance of their services and the quality of their reports will reveal that the consultancy contracts are smart schemes for misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds”, the group further alleged.