A multimillion naira project facilitated by the three senators from Ekiti State in the 7th National Assembly has been abandoned and left in ruin. The senators are Babafemi Ojudu, Olubunmi Adetunmi and Anthony Adeniyi.
The project, a resort centre, located close to the Ureje Water Works in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, which was meant to serve as a tourist attraction and recreational centre, has become home to reptiles.
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A visit to the site by Eko Trust showed that the two gigantic buildings overlooking Ureje water, which was not completed before the expiration of the tenure of the senators, has become a source of concern to the people of the state.
Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who is now a political adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, said, “I only facilitated the project when I was a senator and the contractors went away with the money. He got the contract from the Ministry of Tourism, and in connivance with the officials of the ministry, he absconded with the money meant for the project.”
Senator Ojudu said he reported the case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for necessary action but still awaiting the outcome by the anti-graft agency.
According to a letter sent to the EFCC in 2015, a copy which was seen by Eko Trust, the three senators pulled their constituencies projects money together for the construction of a recreational and tourist centre at the Ureje dam in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, through the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.
“The said ministry awarded the contract for the construction of the project to the listed contractors: Kunlag P. Nigeria Ltd, Lagos, for the construction of Museum/Arts Craft Centre at Ureje Dam Waterfront scheme, Ado-Ekiti, in the sum of N162,425,452.62; Mofunda Ventures Ltd, of 70/72, Omole Street, Yaba, for land clearing and construction of fence/gate house at Ureje Dam Waterfront scheme, Ado-Ekiti at the sum of N122,414,078.32 and Datlex Nigeria Ltd, for the construction of retaining wall at Ureje Dam Waterfront, Ado-Ekiti, in the sum of N132,347,145.00,” noted the petition signed by Toyin Oluwasola of Fiduciary Legal Concepts on behalf of Senator Ojudu.
The document claimed that the project had been paid for in full by the appropriate authorities of the federal government, but the contractors, except Datlex Nigeria Limited, abandoned the projects despite the fact that the contractual term specified nine months for full completion.
Efforts to speak with officials of Kunlag P. Nigeria Ltd and Mofunda Ventures Ltd were not successful as at the time of filing this report.
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