THE Senate has issued a warrant of arrest for the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Dr Peer Lubasch, following repeated failures to appear before its Committee on Works.
The resolution of the Senate is sequel to its consideration and adoption of a Point of Order moved by Minority Whip Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) during plenary.
In the motion which was co-sponsored by Senators Asuquo Ekpeyong (APC, Cross River South) and Barinada Mpigi (PDP, Rivers South East), Ngwu informed the Senate that Julius Berger Plc had consistently refused to appear before the Senate Committee on Works to answer questions on abandoned projects and alarming contract variation from N54 billion to N195 billion.
The decision, announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, follows three ignored invitations from the committee, including one presided over by Akpabio himself. The Senate deemed the MD’s absence a disregard for the parliament and invoked its constitutional powers under Section 89(1)(c) and (d) of the 1999 Constitution to compel his attendance.
Julius Berger Nigeria Plc was accused of abandoning the Odukpani-Itu Highway project and significantly inflating its contract value from ₦54 billion to ₦195 billion. The company also demobilized from the project and refused revised contract terms.
The Senate also noted that Julius Berger repeatedly declined invitations to provide updates on the use of public funds, including over ₦18 billion allocated for the Odukpani-Itu Highway project.
The Senate emphasized its authority under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution to investigate public funds’ administration and summon individuals or organisations for accountability.
It further mandated the Committee on Works to continue probing the Odukpani-Itu Highway, the East-West Road, and other national projects, presenting a comprehensive report on contractors, disbursements, and project statuses.
Eighteen-Eleven Media