By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Chairman of Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA), Justice Eni Esan (rtd) on Wednesday, said that the agency is presently investigating N4.8billion fraud payment on a contract allegedly awarded in 2018 by the state Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA)
Justice Esan (rtd) in a statement, disclosed that some serving and retired civil servants in the state have been arrested by the commission in connection with the alleged fraudulent contract.
The OYACA chairman noted that the alleged fraud was reportedly perpetrated by the individuals at the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA) with the information about the said contract concealed till the State’s anti-graft agency discovered it.
Specifically, the OYACA maintained that the fraud “involved the payment of the sum of N4.8billion to the three private companies without delivering the project and the agency is now after the said companies since the case was established and the officers involved arrested.”
” The Oyo State Anti – Corruption Agency (OYACA) has nabbed some retired and serving top civil servants of Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA) for complicity in a fraudulent contract awarded in 2018″, she said.
Justice Esan (rtd) added, “OYACA was able to discover this fraud despite concealment by the affected top officials to thwart the investigation exercise, the fraud involved the payment of humongous amount of money in the sum of #4.8billion to three companies yet to show up for investigation in spite of our invitations.
She stated that since the case has been established and the officers involved have been arrested for further investigation and prosecution by the State’s Attorney-General.
“The agency is on the heels of the affected companies to recoup the money paid into their accounts in 2018 for supplies not made to date, while investigation is still ongoing, OYACA makes bold to say that the law is no respecter of persons and everyone who has any form of connection with the matter will be dealt with according to the law. We hereby reiterate our commitment to zero tolerance of corruption in the public service of Oyo State,” it affirmed”.
