Reps indict ex-ministers, Waziri, others over $470m CCTV scam

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee’s report has indicted three former ministers over the $470 million Lagos and Abuja CCTV contract.

The ministers are Alhaji Adamu Waziri, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (retd) and Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan as well as a former Permanent Secretary of the defunct ministry of Police Affairs, Mr. James Obeigbu.

The committee alleged they they mismanaged funds meant for the installation of the cameras.

If government accepts the committee’s recommendation, the ex-political appointees would face trial.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ahmed Yerima, tabled the report on Thursday, but its debate was put off till next week.

This is the second time this week that the report has been stood down.

Some of the report recommends of the committee included the prosecution of the former ministers and officials of the defunct Ministry of Police Affairs who served between 2010 and 2014.

“They should be prosecuted over the rationale and motive for the removal and or disappearance of the operational and maintenance costs of the project from its initial proposals, as that singular act contributed to the non-performance of the network,’’ the committee said.

It said the Obeigbu be prosecuted for deliberately refusing to release N3 billion meant for network operations and maintenance;

“ZTE Nigeria, the contractor, should refund the discrepancy amount certified after the audit exercise or supply equipment and spares of commensurate value as may be required by the ministry.

“Otherwise, the figure should be deducted from the outstanding debt of US$20,247,172.00 certified by the Ministry of Police Affairs as being owed ZTE for running the network from January to June, 2013.

It also recommended that a forensic audit of the outstanding debt being owed ZTE for running the system for several months should be conducted and the actual cost be verified.

The House will next week debate the report.

The CCTV contract was awarded in 2008 for $470 million under the National Public Security Communications System (NPSCS).

Only 40 cameras were working, of the 1000 installed in Abuja.

The contractors said they were in the process of re-activating the remaining 960, which they said were vandalised.