$44.86m contract: NPA remains silent over bribery allegation

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is yet to clear the air over the allegation of bribery against it in the award of a contract worth $44.86 million for the dredging of the Delta Ports in Warri.

Recall that a non-governmental organization, Cadrell Advocacy Centre recently accused some NPA officials of taking bribe in the award of the controversial dredging contract.

The group, in a notice published recently, alleged that the Delta Ports dredging contract was fraudulently awarded to Dredging International Services Nigeria Limited (DISNL) – a company it claimed was convicted by a Swiss court in 2012 for bribery.

It said DISC was alleged to have been involved in a bribe for contract scandal with some officials of the NPA to the tune of $20 million. It was convicted and fined one million Swiss francs by the court for bribing Nigerian officials.

The group further stated that it also presented a position paper to a House of Representatives Joint Committee in May 2018, urging the lawmakers to request NPA to reverse the award of the contract on the grounds that DISL is a sister company of a convicted company, Dredging International Services Cyprus (DISC).

“Sadly, while pending the outcome of the EFCC and the House Joint Committee’s investigation, DISL mobilized men, equipment and materials to the site in July 2018, having been paid a 15% mobilization fee by the NPA.

“Till date, this convicted company is believed to have won jobs worth at least N717 billion from the NPA. It still maintains offices in Nigeria and continually enjoys government patronage from the same NPA whose officials are alleged to be beneficiaries of the bribe for which it was convicted.

“Curiously, the company still maintains the Bonny Channel Dredging contract in Nigeria for which it was convicted in Switzerland,” the statement read.

It added that the Bonny Channel Company Limited, (BCCL), a special purpose vehicle established by the NPA and DISC for the execution of the Bonny Chanel dredging, had NPA Managing Director, Hadiza Usman as its Chairman and Bert Willie, the Managing of DISC, as its Managing Director.

The group alleged that the existing relationship, which was a conflict of interest, was not disclosed to other bidders for the job.

When contacted by National Daily, spokesperson for the NPA, Isa Suwaid, said the management of NPA was still working “on an appropriate response” to the allegations.

He said, “Yes, we are going to make our position known soon. I know the management is working on it. You can get back to me.”