Secret Reporters No place to hide
Secrets Reporters
Data assessed by SecretsReporters have revealed that since 2018, a company owned by Hon. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei, a Nigerian politician who currently serves as the Federal Representative representing Southern Ijaw constituency in the 10th National Assembly, has been benefiting from the federal treasury through contracts.
According to details concealed on Govspend, Rep Ambaiowei’s company, Baye-Ebi Consultancy and Engineering Limited has received a total of N1,380,921,448.21 in series of contracts awarded between 2018 and December 2023.
This online media gathered that the contracts were awarded by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Federal Ministry of Transport, and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta.
An inventory of the transactions revealed that Ambaiowei, who had in the past served in various government positions, continued scooping contracts from the federal coffers even after ascending the throne of a Rep member, violating the code of conduct for public servants.
For instance, on 06 December 2023, Festus Keyamo’s led Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development transferred ₦19,485,790.12 to Baye-Ebi Consultancy And Engineering Limited “Being payment of outstanding balance on contract for the production of desks including accessories for customs and immigration at the international terminals of airports”.
(Screenshot showing some of the contracts)
On 03 December 2018, the Federal Ministry of Transport transferred ₦14,689,110.59 to Baye-ebi consultancy and engineering limited “Being balance payment of certificate 1 for the fabrication & installation of conveyor belts at Enugu and Port Harcourt airports”.
It could be seen that on 19 December 2018, Office of the Special Adviser to The President on Niger Delta wired ₦6,078,240.00 to Baye-Ebi Consultancy And Engineering Limited “Being 35% second tranche payment to the company for accommodation, logistics, professional fees and security for training batch 2 of 12 delegates in oil and gas in Delta State”.
We gathered that on 21 February 2019, the sum of ₦6,869,376.00 left the treasury of Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta for the account of Baye-Ebi Consultancy and Engineering Limited “Being 40% third tranch payment on accomodation, logistics, professional fees etc for training 12 delegates of batch 5 in oil & gas electricaln at petro drill global concept at pti Effurun in Delta State”.
Another ₦6,869,376.00 left the coffers of the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta on 6 March 2019, in favour of “Baye-ebi consultancy and engineering limited Being 40% payment iro third tranche for oil & gas electrical power system engineering technician course batch 2 of 12 delegates”.
(Screenshot showing some of the contracts)
(Screenshot showing some of the contracts)
Data revealed that on 09 June 2020 when the COVID-19 was roaring, the Federal Ministry of Transport blessed the account of Baye-Ebi Consultancy and Engineering Limited with ₦242,285,956.38 as “Payment for the fabrication and installation of conveyor belts at Enugu and Portharcourt airports.”
On 01 March 2021, the Federal Ministry of Aviation experienced a debit of ₦15,172,831.65 in favour of Baye-Ebi Consultancy And Engineering Limited “Being payment of 5% retention fees for the fabrication and installation of conveyor belt at Enugu and Port Harcourt airport”.
The account of Baye-ebi consultancy and engineering limited leaped for joy on 24 September 2021, as the Federal Ministry of Aviation rewarded the company with ₦133,707,592.79 as “Payment of balance on certificate no1 & 2 for the production and installation of information desk in some airports,” and another ₦44,937,303.18 to the same company as “Payment of balance on certificate no1 for the production and installation of information desk in some airports.”
Meanwhile, on 29 October 2022, the Federal Ministry of Aviation experienced an outflow of ₦69,118,691.86 in favour of Baye-Ebi Consultancy and Engineering Limited “Being balance payment on contract for the production of desks including accessories for customs and immigration at the international terminal at Enugu airport”.
(Screenshot showing some of the contracts)
Our findings revealed that Baye-Ebi Consultancy and Engineering Limited was incorporated in PortHarcourt Nigeria with Registration Number 976554. It was registered on 01 September 2011 and its current status is unknown. The company’s registered office address is Suite C5, Mazado Plaza, Cadastral; Zone B 04 Shettima Monguno Crescent, Utako Abuja.
(Screenshot showing some the owners of Baye-Ebi Consultancy and Engineering Limited)
Records have it that in the public service, Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei worked as the Technical Assistant on Projects Facilitation and Monitoring at the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta in the office of the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties at the Presidency, National Planning Commission, Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in Abuja. This was between January 2008 to July 2011. Before that, he was Personal Assistant to the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Bayelsa State, between 2006 to May 2007.
He was also appointed Project Engineer of the Bayelsa State Oil Limited under the auspices of the State Ministry of Agriculture.
