Senate summons MDs of Julius Berger, CCECC Over Refusal to Honour its Invitation
The Senate Committee on Works, on Wednesday summoned the Managing Directors of construction companies, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and China Civil Engineering Construction (CCECC) to appear before it within one week.
The resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, after the construction companies failed to appear before the Committee, having been duly invited.
Spark News reports that three construction companies, namely Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, CCECC and Somatech were invited to the Senate investigative hearing on “The Non-completion of the Odukpani-Itu Federal Highway in Cross River State, including Assessing the Utilisation of Funds Allocated for the Project Over Subsequent Budget Cycles.”
Only Somatech was present at the hearing held at the National Assembly complex, while Julius Berger and CCECC failed to turn up.
Obviously irked by their absence, Senator Jarigbe moved a motion urging the Committee to summon the MDs of the two construction giants.
While arguing that Julius Berger and CCECC did not just fail to come, he said they deliberately refused to honour the invitation of the Committee.
Invoking the relevant section of the Senate standing orders, the lawmaker, representing Cross River North, urged the Committee to summon the Managing Directors of Julius Berger and CCECC to appear before it within the next seven days.
The visibly infuriated Senator prayed that failure to appear will attract a Warrant of Arrest.
The motion, having been moved and seconded, the Committee chairman, Senator Barry Mpigi echoed, “The MDs of Julius Berger and CCECC have been given one week to formally appear before this Committee. We, so summon!”