The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Thursday, authorized an arrest warrant against the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. This decision was taken after the company failed to honor repeated invitations by the Senate Committee on Works regarding an abandoned road project that had been funded by the federal government.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while addressing the matter, stressed the Senate’s responsibility to monitor the use of public funds. He stated:
“If we have powers to appropriate, we have powers to oversight, and we also have powers to follow the money to the letter. Since the company has disregarded the Senate’s summons, the next step is to issue a warrant of arrest to compel the Managing Director of Julius Berger to appear before the Committee.”
Akpabio criticized the extended discussions over the company’s failure to appear, emphasizing that the National Assembly should not tolerate any contractor undermining its authority.
The Senate subsequently resolved that the Senate President would officially sign the warrant, mandating the Julius Berger MD to appear before the Committee on Works on a date to be announced. A report of the proceedings will then be presented to the assembly. Akpabio further warned that non-compliance could lead to more stringent actions, as allowed by the Nigerian Constitution.
This move underlines the Senate’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of federal funds. Julius Berger’s Managing Director is now expected to provide a detailed account of how funds disbursed for the project were utilized.
What You Should Know
The Senate Committee on Works has raised concerns about delays in major road projects across the country. Several contractors, including Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, have been under scrutiny for their performance.
During an investigative hearing on December 5, 2024, the committee examined slow progress on key infrastructure projects such as the Odukpani-Itu Highway, Eket Bypass, and Port Harcourt-Ahoada Road. While companies like RCC, Setraco, and Gitto were flagged for performance issues, Julius Berger drew particular criticism for ignoring Senate summons regarding the use of taxpayer funds allocated for its projects.
Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong revealed that Julius Berger briefly mobilized to one project site before abandoning work. Following this, the Senate had summoned the company to appear by December 6, 2024. The Ministry of Works echoed this directive on its website the same day.
Julius Berger’s continued absence led the Senate to escalate matters by issuing an arrest warrant. The Managing Director is now required to appear before the Senate Committee on Works to account for the funds received.
For more updates, join our WhatsApp channel here.
Source: Chronicles Reporter’s