N7.6m fraud: FCTA accuses Elizade Motors of failure to refurbish 2 buses
… Delay due to scarcity of parts- Auto Firm
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraudulent act of swindling the FCTA of about N7.6million meant for refurbishing official vehicles.
The Daily Times investigation, has shown that the foremost marketers of Toyota range of automobiles, Elizade Motors, has allegedly defrauded the FCTA to the tune of over N7.6 million under the the pretext of refurbishing one 32- seater Model T Coaster bus and 18 seaters Model T Hiace bus attached to the media unit of the FCT Minister’s office.
Our correspondent gathered that the contract was awarded since July 2017, but Elizade has failed to deliver it after several months of promises to handover the buses to the FCT Administration, despite the fact that the Administration has made payments to the company.
The contractual documents obtained by our correspondent showed that it costs the FCT Administration the sum of N4, 399, 762.50m to refurbish the Model-T Coaster bus, while the sum of N3, 200, 557.50m was expended to refurbish the Model-T Hiace bus, thus totaling N7, 600, 320.00m for the two vehicles.
The newspaper also gathered that the then Permanent Secretary of FCT Administration, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, had made express payments to the company before commencement of work.
But trouble started on September 21, 2017, after several months of failed promises to deliver the buses by the company, the Information Department of the FCT Administration threatened Elizade Motors to refund the money paid and the Coaster bus in its custody or it would be dragged to the anti-corruption agency.
In response to the threat letter titled: “Re: Request for the Return of FCTA Press Corps Coaster Bus and Immediate Refund of Payment”, dated October 5, 2017; and signed by the company’s branch manager, Mr. Ayorinde Ojo, read in part: “We write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated 21st September, 2017, on the above subject and want to thank you for taking the time to express your displeasure over the delay in the completion of the repair of your Toyota Coaster AZ 62GWA.
“Kindly accept our sincere apology for the inconvenience the absence of the vehicle has caused and our willingness to retail you as a satisfied customer as customer satisfaction is our top priority.
“However, we hope to deliver the Coaster bus on or before 27th October, 2017 due to the spraying job to be done on the vehicle; while the Hiace bus should be ready for delivery within two weeks of reception due to the job demand”. It was also gathered that when the company delivered the vehicle to FCT Administration for road test, the bus which has been certified by Elizade Motors to be in perfect condition could not withstand 15 minutes’ test drive along the Airport Road, as the vehicle broke down on the way to Lugbe Satellite Town.
A reliable source told our correspondent that the vehicle had failed test drive on two different occasions, despite assurances from the auto company that the vehicle is in sound and perfect road condition, just as he also questioned the integrity and huge amount expended on its refurbishment.
When contacted, the Abuja Branch Manager of Elizade Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ayorinde Ojo, told our correspondent that the delay was due to scarcity of auto parts in the branch office, stressing that the company does not source for auto parts in the local markets. According to him, “It is our duty to satisfy our customers either corporate or individual.
I am aware of all that has transpired in the repair work on the bus, but I must stress that vehicle is like human parts. We have 2500 components in every vehicle; and for vehicle to work efficiently, all the components must be in perfect condition. We are trying to put the bus in perfect condition before delivery.”
By Idu Jude, Abuja
