• To review controversial contract awarded to BOTAD in 2010
• HADC to remit millions as returns of investment for the first time since 2012
Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Harmony Holdings Limited, Mallam Abdullahi Abdulmajeed has inaugurated a 10-person investigative committee to unravel circumstances surrounding a controversial contract awarded to BOTAD General Limited by the Kwara State Government in 2010 for the supply of G.E equipment to Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Center (HADC), a subsidiary company of Harmony Holdings Limited.
The inauguration took place Wednesday, November 25 at the Conference Room of HADC.
BOTAD General Limited had sued the state government sometime in September 2019 over a purportedly unpaid amount to the tune of N300 million due to them from the state government (under the administration of Dr Bukola Saraki) in respect of the 2010 contract.
As part of the effort of the present administration, an amicable settlement and mutual understanding was reached with BOTAD which saw the reduction of the amount demanded and claimed to N191 million which is to be paid in installments.
The state government has therefore directed HHL, the parent company of HADC to provide evidence relating to the terms of contract before making further attempts at payment, thereby necessitating the naming of the committee.
The establishment of the committee also becomes important because HADC, which is the supposed end user of the equipment, is not in possession of copies of the said contract documents given it had not been established at the time.
In the same vein, the contract documents could not be found in the ministries that superintended over the contract, thereby suggesting foul play and lack of due process.
The investigative committee is to be chaired by Mr Abdulraheem Yusuf, with the time frame of 2 weeks for the assignment.
Other members include: Mr Obafemi Oyetunji (Secretary), Mr Abdullateef Afolayan, Mr Abu Shiya, Mrs Nana Omeiza Attah, Bar. Sheu Mogaji and Abdullah Abdulganiy.
Representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance are also part of the committee.
Speaking at the inauguration, Harmony Holdings GMD said it was a moment of mixed feeling to inaugurate another committee saddled with the responsibility of investigating a mess left by successive previous administrations.
“It is painful and challenging that the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has the herculean task to turn around the fortunes of Kwara State which had been battered for more than a decade. This is another investigative committee saddled with the onerous responsibility of investigating for the purpose of cleaning up the mess occasioned by the mismanagement, misappropriation and maladministration of the collective patrimony of Kwara State by successive previous administrations,” he said.
He also lamented that despite humongous funds sunk into HADC by previous administrations, not a single kobo was remitted as returns of investment, revealing the changes that have taken place in that direction.
“A crucial point that we should observe is that since the inception of this project (diagnostic center), not a single kobo has been returned to government representing returns of investment inspite of the huge investments put into it. I also want to reveal that the end of this year (2020), would be the very first time in the history of the existence of HADC where we will have millions of naira as returns to the government despite the challenging state in which we met the medical facility. This is as a result of the turnaround management we have implemented in line with the integrity and efficiency agenda of the Mal. Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq led administration of the state.
To succeed in HADC and the other subsidiaries, we need to ensure that the clogs in the wheel of progress which the past represents are clearly identified and a surgical operation is conducted to cut them off so that we can move forward in the direction that the people expect, especially in line with the policy and vision of the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration.”
The GMD/CEO, who promised to make all necessary support available to the committee, expressed confidence in it, saying it is a careful assemblage of experts — finance, medical, legal and media.
He also tasked the committee members on transparency and objectivity.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, the Chairman, Mr Abdulraheem Yusuf thanked the GMD for reposing confidence in the team, while describing the governor of the state as a visionary leader who wants the best for his people.
He also assured the GMD of a thorough, comprehensive and objective job.
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