The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has raised an alarm over the payment of N151m as reimbursement to a construction firm, Cartil Construction Nigeria Limited for a road project executed by the church as a corporate social responsibility project.
According to reports, the Nigerian Senate has commenced probe of the Federal Ministry of Works for paying the aforesaid construction firm N151m as reimbursement for a road project executed by the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
In a petition submitted by a senior official of the RCCG, Pastor Niyi Adebanjo, on behalf of the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, it was alleged that the ministry officials paid N151m to the management of Cartil Construction Nigeria Limited as part payment for the road project awarded to it but abandoned.
Adebanjo submitted the petition and the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, referred the document to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
The petition was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, on behalf of Lawan, on February 9.
The RCCG, in the petition, alleged that the construction firm claimed the sum of N151,508,901.22 as reimbursement for the rehabilitation of the Ife-Ifewara Road, Osun State, which the RCCG constructed.
The petition partly reads, “The rehabilitation of the road was awarded as part of the Church’s corporate social responsibility and paid for by Pastor Enoch Adeboye in the sum of N188,440,342 hence the claim by Cartil Construction Nigeria Limited was illegal and unjust.
“The Church hereby requests the Senate to look into the matter and, among others, urge the firm to refund the money it collected to the coffers of the Federal Government.”
Speaking before the panel under oath, on Wednesday, Adebanjo said, “Pastor E.A. Adeboye employed the services of the Construction Department of the RCCG to execute the project between August 26, 2016 and 2019 and the total cost was over N188m.
“The project started from Eruwa junction in Ife and Garage Olode in Ifewara, which is 8.2km. We have details of all the seven companies that supplied us with the materials used to execute the project. They delivered all the materials on site. We have supplied details of the projects to the Committee.
“While the project was ongoing, authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service pleaded with Pastor Adeboye to extend the construction to their premises, which was done.
“There are people at Ife and Ifewara who can testify to the fact that Pastor Adeboye constructed the road because he visited the palace, where the Oba appreciated him for constructing the road.
“We were therefore shocked when we found out that somebody was trying to defraud the Nigerian state by claiming money for a project he never executed.”
The media had carried the news in the past at the time the road was built even though the Church had been silent about it owing to her style to be quiet about roles played in the Country in the aid of the Government at all levels and especially the populace.
The news as reported then is reposted below:
To assist the Osun State Government in its effort towards construction of roads in the state, PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE has fixed the abandoned road from the Palace of the King in Ile-Ife to the Palace of the King in Ifewara (his place of birth) few months ago.
The 15+ km road which was in a very deplorable state and not motorable during raining season has been neglected for a long time.
This is probably because the users have been looked at as people of zero clout or voiceless in our society, as such farmers might have witnessed difficulties in getting their harvest to the potential buyers in urban areas.
Alas! To ease the stress of commuters and road users plying this route and to further aid business activities in this community, Pastor Adeboye silently constructed this 15+ km road as one of his contributions towards development in that community.
According to a reliable source, during the construction of the road, the Prison in Ile-Ife pleaded with Pastor Adeboye to extend his arm of magnanimity to them by helping to fix their road which branches off the main road that was constructed but has been neglected by both State and Federal government.
He also visited and prayed for some community members nearby.
