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Secret Reporters
An Investigation carried out on the Benue State Open Procurement Portal by SecretReporters has shown that Governor Samuel Ortom-led government awarded a contract worth N 19,302,599.47 to his party faithful, Joseph Ojobo.
According to findings by this online news media, Ojobo, a member of the Benue state house of assembly under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a party the governor is also a member of, owns a company by the name ERICA OJAY INVESTMENT NIG LTD.
ERICA OJAY INVESTMENT NIG LTD, on January 20 2021, received a contract from Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, Makurdi, for the construction of 1 no. Block of UBE Standard Block.
The award of this contract by Ortom’s led administration violates Section 9 of the code of conduct for public officers involved with procurement which 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”.
Investigations also show that ERICA OJAY INVESTMENT NIG LTD with Registration Number 1137078, was incorporated in Makurdi. It was registered on August 23 2013 with status unknown. The company’s registered office address is No.5, Bemsien Street, off owner occupier Estate, new G.R.A, Makurdi, Benue State.
