N401bn contract scam rocks Buhari’s FCT Minister, Bello administration

Maureen Aguta

Indication at the weekend was that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), HE Chief Nyesom Wike, may have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to arrest Buhari’s former Minister of FCT, Mallam Muhammed Bello to explain how he awarded 1km road from Gaduwa Estate junction to NCDC office at the cost of N4 billion and paid in full.

It was also alleged that FCT under the Bello’s watch awarded a contract of N10 billion and later jacked up to N119 billion. That is even as it also awarded a contract of N50 billion and later jack up to N200 billion.

It was further disclosed that FCT administration under Bello awarded contract of N6 billion and later jack up to N70 billion. It also awarded an emergency contract for the maintenance of Usman Dam at the cost of N9 billion and paid in full without any BOQ and so many other procurement infractions.

The Bello administration left debt of over N1.2 trillion to FCT without anything show.

His administration was also accused of approving green areas for residential houses and converting residential houses in Wuse 2, Maitama Gana Street and Garki into commercial districts in contravention of the of the Abuja original master plan.