Both Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday gave approval to Federal Government’s request to refund N16,772,486,002.19 to the Borno State Government for federal road projects executed by the state.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had written to the National Assembly to give approval to the amount through promissory note and bond issuance.
The decision of the Senate to give approval was sequel to the consideration of the report of its Committee on Local and Foreign Debts which was presented by Chairman of the Committee,, Senator Clifford Ordia .
Also, the Green Chamber approved the refund after it considered a report by its Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Ahmed Safana Dayyabu presented the report.
Both Ordia and Dayyabu in their separate reports said their committees discovered that all the projects listed by the State Government were actually executed.
Senator Ordia observed that most of federal roads mentioned were at a deplorable state before the intervention of the Borno State Government.
He added that the Federal Bureau of Public Procurement has ascertained and certified that due process was followed accordingly.
On his part, Dayyabu told the House that the Borno State Government began construction of the federal roads in 2014
He added that out of the roads, only the Damboa-Chibok-Mbalala (30Km) Road Phase I was eligible for reimbursement as it was awarded before the President’s directive of 29th July 2016 which suspended assessment of requests for refund on projects carried out without the Federal Governments approval.
He said the other three projects (Damboa-Chibok-Mbalala Road Phase II, Flyover Bridge at Custom Roundabout, Maiduguri, and Dualisation of the Maiduguri-Dikwa-Gamboru/Ngala Road from Custom Area to Muwa Welcome Gate) awarded by the Borno State Government after the President’s directive, were approved upon a compassionate appeal by the Borno State Government.
Meanwhile, Senate has passed an amendment to the Act establishing the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) approving two years jail term to any person who send false petitions to the Commission.
The amendment on Tuesday followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, chaired by Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari (APC, Kaduna).
Major among the provisions is the amendment to section 25 of the Act, which slams two-year imprisonment with no option of fine on anyone whose petitions to the commission is found to be false or intended to mislead.
In the principal act, the offence of false petition attracts a fine of N100,000 only.
The amendment in section (25) (1) says Any person who makes or cause any other person to make to an officer of the commission…any statement which to the knowledge of the person making the statement, or causing the statement to be made is false, or intended to mislead shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two (2) years.
