EXCLUSIVE: Contractor Handling Ndiebe Bailey Bridge In Abia Allegedly Flees After Receiving Full Payment

Evidence has emerged that Masta Services Ltd, a civil engineering company handling the repair of Ndiebe Bailey Bridge in Abam, Arochukwu LGA, of Abia State has abandoned project site despite receiving full payment.

The company was said to have been paid the sum of N49, 761, 637.07 by the Anambra Imo River Basin Authority out of the total contract sum of N50m.

A letter obtained by our correspondent from the Authority indicates that the contractor has been fully paid for the project which includes study and design, river diversion works, and concrete works in foundation.

Managing Director of Masta Services Ltd, Mr. Ugochukwu Ohuabunwa however insisted that his company has not been paid for the job done so far.

In leaked audio, Mr. Ohuabunwa faulted Anambra Imo River Basin Authority’s claim, insisting that it is yet to be paid.

He accused an unnamed member of the National Assembly of being behind his company’s ordeals.

In the audio verified by our correspondent, he claimed that his company had an unwritten agreement with the Authority to commence work on the site while paperwork for payment is being processed.

He went further to allege that the National Assembly member used his contact to stop payment for the job.

Dissatisfied with the situation, the host community had petitioned the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the parent body of the River Basin Authority.

The Ministry then requested the agency to furnish it with facts about the contract.

Investigation by our correspondent however revealed that documents from the agency has shown that the contractors claim is false.

Disappointed with the development, the host community through its lawyer, has demanded that the contractor return to site and execute the project within seven days or face legal action.

The community accused the contractor of using the contacts of his brother who is a former member of the National Assembly to fleece funds from the Federal Government.

The community expressed disgust that a contract which has been fully paid for with the project in 2017 act captured “REPLACEMENT OF NDI EBE ABAM BAILEY BRIDGE” which is straight forward and as captured in the contract document but curiously the contractor choose to change course without requisite legislative scrutiny to choose a cheaper route of employing the funds to bridge design just to find a dubious means to collect fund and abandoned site.

This conduct is in itself a violation of the Appropriation Act and amounts to a Medical Doctor diagnosing and receiving payment to carryout appendixatomy but ended up treating headaches. Really unprofessional conduct.

Our findings show that the only job on ground is the one attracted by the House of Representatives member with a total cost less than N35m, while the Masta contractor has received N49m just for bridge design.