Specifically, Section 5 of the Act requires that a public officer must not put themselves in a position where their personal interest conflicts with their duties and responsibilities.
By SaharaReporters
Documents obtained by civic accountability organisation TrackaNG have revealed that a company linked to Senator Agom Jarigbe received over ₦637 million in federal payments for projects executed within the Cross River North Senatorial District, which the senator represents.
TrackaNG stated that investigations into Janjari Company Limited’s corporate records show that the company has three directors, five shareholders, and one company secretary, all bearing the name “Agom Jarigbe,” suggesting an affiliation with the senator who is listed as the project facilitator for several of the contracts.
The documents posted on X (former Twitter) handle analysed by SaharaReporters on Monday indicate that the total value of payments made to Janjari Company Limited during the period amounts to ₦637,234,736.86.
A breakdown of the payments includes: “₦73,837,511.44 paid on May 16, 2023, by OSSAP-MDGS for the supply of 130 motorcycles to Obudu Local Government Area, Cross River State.
“₦21,223,791.02 paid on May 26, 2023, by OSSAP-MDGS as final completion payment for the supply of 41 all-in-one desktop computers with tables, chairs, printers, and UPS units to Cross River North Senatorial District.
“₦170,223,434.40 paid on April 8, 2024, by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for emergency supply of rice to Cross River North Senatorial District.
“₦346,000,000 paid on September 2, 2024, by the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, for construction of solar street lights in Nkum Ekajuk and other communities in Cross River North Senatorial District.
“₦25,950,000 paid on September 2, 2024, also by the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, for provision and supply of solar-powered street lights in selected communities in Obudu Local Government Area.”
Meanwhile, the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act (Cap C15, LFN 2004), which mirrors the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), strictly prohibits public officers from using their positions to secure contracts, benefits, or any property for themselves, their spouses, children, agents, or any company in which they have an interest.
Specifically, Section 5 of the Act requires that a public officer must not put themselves in a position where their personal interest conflicts with their duties and responsibilities.
It reads, “A public officer is forbidden from influencing the award of, or directly awarding, a contract to themselves, their spouse, child, agent, or any company in which they have an interest.
“Public officers are prohibited from asking for or accepting property or benefits for themselves or any other person on account of anything done or omitted in the discharge of their duties.
“Even if a public officer does not directly own the company, they are deemed to have breached the code if they use a nominee, trustee, or agent to secure such contracts. If a public officer’s personal interest conflicts with their duties, they are required to disclose this in writing to their department or agency and refrain from participating in any related deliberations.”
However, TrackaNG has questioned whether the projects were subjected to open and competitive procurement processes before Janjari Company Limited emerged as contractor and called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to investigate the matter.