Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, NRC Boss Seyi Sijuade, PDP Chieftain Mohammed Bello & Ex Minister Idris Umar To Appear Before Reps Over N1trillon Failed Rail Contracts

Minister of Transport, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, the Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC,Engr Seyi Sjuwade, a one time Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Mohammed Bello Haliru and former Minister of Transport, Mallam Idris Umar have been summoned over a N1trillion failed rail contracts.

According to information available

The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on failed rail contracts running to over N1trillion has summoned the Minister of Transport, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, the Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC,Engr Seyi Sjuwade, a one time Acting National Chairman of the

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Mohammed Bello Haliru and former Minister of Transport, Mallam Idris Umar over the rail contracts scam.

We learnt in Abuja on Sunday that the fresh invitations being extended to the affected persons by the ad-hoc committee chaired by Honourable Ehoizuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, were based on emerging facts uncovered by the Committee in the rail contracts.

It was gathered that those involved were expected to appear before the ad-hoc committee tomorrow in Abuja ) to give a vivid account of their roles in the awards And execution of the contracts over the years ..

The Committee had last December summoned the trio of Alhaji Kawu Baraje ,Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Dr Bello Haliru, former National Chairmen of the PDP and Senator Ladan Shuni, all who were former Chairmen of the NRC governing board and all denied that during their tenures contract was awarded by their boards

In their separate presentations, they told the ad-hoc committee that the Procurement Act excluded the NRC Board from participating in the award of railway contracts.

When contacted, Chairman of the ad-hoc committee Agbonayinma confirmed that all the stakeholders have been duly informed and they were expected to show up unfailingly on Tuesday as stipulated in their letters of invitation.

Speaking on why the Minister of Transport was being invited despite the fact that he was barely three months old in office, Agbonayinma said “the Minister of Transport, Honourable Rotimi Amaechi, was also invited to tell us all he knows, though he just assumed office, but you know government is a continuum”.

According to him, “this 8th House is 100percent in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s crusade against any form of corruption, we are not out to witch hunt anybody but anyone found wanting in the course of this investigative hearing will be adequately exposed although as you are aware not until it is proven by a competent court that such persons are guilty you can’t say they are guilty”.

thenation