Bedroom Business: How Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum Awarded N188 Million Contract To His Wife

Secret Reporters

In another startling revelation that further compounds the fading public trust in the government of the day, an exclusive investigation by SecretReporters has uncovered a jaw-dropping case of nepotism within the Borno State Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement.

Shockingly, a contract worth a staggering N188,375,723:00 was awarded to a company owned by the wife of the Borno State Governor, Dr. Falmata Umara Zulum in brazen defiance of laws explicitly forbidding vested interests in the allocation of government contracts.

According to data on the Borno State open procurement portal, the Ministry Of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement awarded the contract in the second quarter of 2020.

This online media gathered that the multimillion naira contract was awarded to Adventure Design & Engineering Services LTD for the “Construction of UNDP Funded 500 Housing Each in Lot a Monguno LGA”

Our investigation revealed that the awarding of this lucrative contract to the Governor’s wife’s company by the Ministry entrusted with the monumental task of rebuilding and rehabilitating Borno State, was shrouded in secrecy, with a complete absence of the open and competitive bidding processes mandated by law.

The lack of transparency raises serious concerns about potential corruption, favoritism, and a disturbing pattern of abuse of power at the highest levels of the Borno State government, calling for an independent and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the contract. It also seeks for answers on whether due process was sidestepped for personal gain.

Section 9 of the code of conduct for public officers involved with procurement states: A Public Officer shall decline in serving in a procurement process if any of the Bidders or Service Providers engaged in the procurement proceedings is related to him by blood, marriage or grant relationship or where the success of a particular Bidder or Service Provider in the proceedings will confer a pecuniary or other advantage on him.

Our investigations revealed that Adventure Design & Engineering Services LTD was incorporated in Maiduguri, Nigeria, with Registration Number 1330762. It was registered on 21 April 2016, and its current status is unknown.

The company’s registered office address is No 2069, 1000 Housing Estate.