Nigeria Re-awards Revoked Abuja-Kaduna Highway Contract to Inactive Company
The federal government of Nigeria has re-awarded the revoked section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway to an inactive and obscure company.
The company, Infoquest Nigeria Limited as announced by the Minister of Works, Sen David Umahi, had secured the contract for the completion of the remaining sector of Section 2 of the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
However, Daily Trust investigation shows the status of Infoquest Nigeria Limited is inactive on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website. This means that the decision to award the contract to the company violates the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.
Additional information about the company shows its total ordinary shares is N100,000 and its total share capital is N100,000. Also, the company has never paid annual returns since its establishment.
According to the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, an inactive company is legally incapable of executing contracts or undertaking new business activities.
Therefore, the decision to award a contract for the Abuja-Kaduna highway to Messer Infoquest Nigeria Limited contradicts Section 525(3) & (4) of the CAMA 2020 which empowers the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to remove such companies from the register.
Curiously, the minister said Infotech was preferred over six contractors that indicated interest including Messers Julius Berger Nig. Plc, itself, Messers Hitech Construction Company Limited, Messers Infoquest Nigeria Limited, Messers CBC Nigeria Limited, Messers CCECC Nigeria Limited and Messers CGC Nigeria Limited, all with higher pedigree.
The company’s status on the CAC website is also inactive and its listed address is 39, Falohun Street, Orile, Lagos. The company has three directors listed as Omeruwa Onyekachi, Olubodun Benson, and Kuforiji Moses.
Daily Trust reports that Infoquest Nigeria Limited lacks a digital presence, raising questions about its capacity and legitimacy to execute such a significant multi-billion naira national project. Similarly, there was little digital information on the names of the listed directors.
Tracing company address in Lagos indicated as 39 Falohun Street, off Baale junction located in Orile Iganmu, a responsdent interviewed within the vicinity claimed ignorance of any corporate entity in the neighborhood.