TUE, MAY 12 2020-theG&BJournal- Two Chinese were caught trying to bribe top Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operative investigating a Chinese owned construction company, China Zhonghao Nig. Ltd.
The suspects, Mr Meng Wei Jun and Mr Xu Koi were caught by the Sokoto Zonal Office of the Commission on Monday May 11 2020 in Sokoto for offering N50 million bribe to its Zonal Head, Mr Abdullahi Lawal.
According to the EFCC, the bribe was allegedly offered in a desperate bid to compromise ongoing investigations of China Zhonghao Nig. Ltd, handling a N50 billion contracts awarded by the Zamfara State Government between 2012 and 2019.
The Zonal Office of the Commission is investigating the construction company, in connection with the execution of contracts for construction of township roads in Gummi, Bukkuyun, Anka and also the construction of 168 sola-powered boreholes in the 14 local government areas of the state.
‘’Alarmed by the consistency and professionalism of investigation being conducted, the company reached out to Lawal with an offer of N100 million as bribe to bury the matter,’’ the EFCC said in a statement.
The EFCC said ‘’in a grand design to trap the corrupt officials, Lawal palyed along. On Monday, two representatives of the company Meng Wei Kun and Xu Kuoi offered him cash totalling N50 million in their office along airport road, Sokoto. The cash was offered as first instalment. The suspect were promptly arrested with the cash as an evidence.’’
The Commission said the investigation of the construction company was informed bt an intelligence on alleged conspiracy; misappropriation of public funds, embezzlement, official corruption, abuse of office, stealing and money laundering obtained against the Zamfara state government through inflated and uncompleted contracts awarded the company.
The investigation, according to the EFCC, have so far revealed that of China Zhonghao Nig. Ltd has received payments of over N41 billion from the Zamfara state government out of which about N16 billion or equivalent of $35 million was allegedly diverted and traced to some bureau de change operators.
The EFCC says the suspects will soon be charged to court.
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