PUNCH NEWS

AN Abuja-based anti-corruption organization, Initiative For Advancement and Accountable Integrity in Governance has accused the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Sheriff Oborevwori, of spending N1.6bn on vehicles purchased at exorbitant prices.

In a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission dated December 7, 2020, the group said 36 vehicles were bought in June 2019 for the House members at inflated costs.

The civil society organization also accused Oborevwori of tax evasion, stating that “the sum of N77,201,250 calculated at five per cent of the total vehicle purchase sum was claimed as VAT when in fact, no such amount was paid.”

The petition titled, ‘Petition against Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly) and Mrs Iyna Aliya Ocholor (Clerk, Delta State House of Assembly) over fraud, abuse of office, exorbitant price on the purchase of vehicles and wanton looting of the legislative treasury.’

It read, “While it is within the scope of legislative duties to provide honourable members with functional official vehicles, we were taken aback by the huge sums used in the purchase of different brands of vehicles for honourable members when, in fact, the state is faced with many tasks to deal with.

“A total of 36 vehicles was approved and bought for the honourable members with the sum of N1,621,226,250. We find this claim laughable. More worrisome is the fact that the sum of N77,201,250 calculated at five per cent of the total vehicle purchase sum was claimed as VAT when, in fact, no such (amount) was paid, or was VAT paid on purchase.’’

The group argued that it was clear there was fraud and misappropriation of funds by the speaker and clerk and therefore, asked the EFCC to carry out a comprehensive investigation into its petition.

It also demanded a probe of the contractor and recovery of the proceeds of the transaction and refund to the legislative account.

Our correspondent gathered that Oborevwori, and Ochulor had been interrogated by the EFCC in Abuja.

When contacted on Friday, the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said he was not aware of the matter.

The Chief Press Secretary to the speaker, Mr Dennis Otu, said Oborevwori was never invited by the anti-graft agency over the purchase of cars for members of the House, noting that the clerk was merely invited by the EFCC to present documentary evidence on the transaction.