REVEALED – How Lawmaker’s Company Allegedly Collected Over N200m For Contract Not Executed

REVEALED – How Lawmaker’s Company Allegedly Collected Over N200m For Contract Not Executed

Between 2018 and 2023, records have shown that the sum of N41,515,645,264 billion was budgeted for the Federal College of Education, Bichi, and the National Orthopedic Hospital, Dala, Kano State for the construction of different projects. While the FCE Bichi got ₦20,027,209,363, the National Orthopedic Hospital Dala got ₦21,488,435,90.

Within those five years over ₦310,968,397.07 worth of projects in Kano were awarded to Asasco Nigeria Limited, a company owned by Honorable Lawal Shehu, a state lawmaker representing Bichi Constituency since 2019. But investigations have shown that several of the projects paid for were not executed.

on 13, September 2021.

A site visit by SolaceBase confirmed that the GOPD was fully constructed and equipped

Regarding these contracts, Hon. Shehu clearly breached the law as there is an obvious case of conflict of interest. By using a company in which he has an interest or owns to execute a public contract, Hon. Shehu breached Section 57 (9) of the Public Procurement Act 2007, states: “Every public officer involved directly or indirectly in matters of public procurement and disposal of assets shall:

(a) divest himself of any interest or relationships which are actually or potentially inimical or detrimental to the best interest of the government and the underlying principles of this Act; and

(b) not engage or participate in any commercial transaction involving the federal government, its ministries, extra-ministerial departments, corporations where his capacity as a public officer is likely to confer any unfair advantage – pecuniary or otherwise on him or any person directly related to him.”

Also, Section 57 (10) states: “Any person engaged in the public procurement and disposal of assets who has assumed or is about to assume a financial or other business outside business relationship that might involve a conflict of interest, must immediately declare to the authorities any actual or potential interest.”

Furthermore, Section 57 (11) says, “Such a declaration shall be given such consideration at the relevant level as is necessary so that, where it is seen that remedial action is taken, a conflict of interest is present.

On March 22, 2024, several calls were placed by this reporter to Hon. Shehu, but he didn’t pick his calls and didn’t call back. Furthermore, on March 28, 2024, a text message was sent requesting him to explain why the construction of one clinic and eight theatres at FCE Bichi was not done despite full payment.

However, Hon. Shehu did not respond to multiple requests for comments.

This report is produced with support from Civic Media Lab (CML).