The Benue State House of Assembly has recommended the immediate removal of the Auditor-General for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abraham Gberindyer, over alleged gross misconduct, abuse of office and violation of procurement principles in the handling of a N4.6 billion audit contract involving the 23 local government councils.
The recommendation was made during Tuesday Plenary presided over by the Speaker,Rt.Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga, following a report of the committee set up by the House to investigate the circumstances surrounding the engagement of external consultants to audit the finances of the local governments.
The committee, after reviewing documents, testimonies and relevant statutory provisions, said it found evidence of what it described as non-disclosure, procurement irregularities, duplication of functions and disproportionate expenditure.
According to the report, the Auditor-General had approached Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia for approval to undertake a financial audit of the 23 local government councils through consultants without disclosing the estimated financial implication of the exercise.
It added that following the governor’s approval, the Auditor-General allegedly engaged two consultants, Abba Adaudu and Nongomin Ter, at a total cost of N4.6 billion without complying with provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2020 relating to competitive bidding, transparency, fairness, value for money and accountability.
In a statement issued by the Speaker’s chief press secretary, Zape Michael Upaa, after today’s plenary, said the probe committee further found that the Auditor-General’s office had previously carried out audits covering substantially the same period and submitted reports to the House, describing the new exercise as an unnecessary duplication.
On the payments made to the consultants, the committee said N3.44 billion had been advanced, while N660 million remained outstanding under the contract figures presented to it.
It stated that Nongomin Ter & Co. received N1.84 billion in two instalments, while Abba Adaudu & Co. received N2.1 billion.
The report also raised questions over the disparity between the amount paid to Nongomin Ter and the cost estimate contained in his brief before the committee.
According to the report, Ter indicated that the financial audit of the Local Government Education Areas would cost N920 million, while the personnel audit of pensioners would cost N230 million, bringing the total to N1.15 billion.
”The committee therefore noted that it could not establish how the consultant was eventually paid N1.84 billion,” the statement said.
The report further disclosed that the two consultants were invited to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office in Makurdi and directed to refund monies paid to them by the local government councils.
It stated that Nongomin Ter & Co. refunded N975 million to the EFCC, while Abba Adaudu allegedly declined to make any refund, insisting that he had commenced work on the assignment.
The committee also criticised the existing legal framework governing, “the Office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments, noting that the 1996 Establishment Edict was outdated and did not adequately provide for the engagement of professional services.”
In its recommendations, the committee urged the House to strengthen compliance with financial regulations and ensure that future engagements of external consultants undergo strict procurement procedures, legislative oversight and value-for-money assessment.
It also recommended that the practice of awarding contracts with 80 per cent advance payments be condemned, warning that such arrangements could encourage contractor misconduct.
On the consultants’ assignment, the committee recommended that the consultants and local governments reconcile their accounts and review the fees downward, with the continuation of the work supervised by the Public Accounts Committee.
The committee further recommended the amendment of the Auditor-General for Local Governments Establishment Edict of 1996 to provide a proper legal framework for the office to engage professional experts where necessary.
The report recommended, “That in line with finding 8, the Auditor-General for Local Governments, Dr. Abraham Gberindyer be removed from office for gross misconduct, abuse of office, breach of public interest, violation of procurement principles and conduct unbecoming of a public officer.”
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga, subsequently ruled in favour of the committee’s recommendations, as the House adopted the position contained in the report.
Meanwhile, Dzunguer Bishop, identified before the committee as the DFA, denied involvement in any illegal activity connected to the matter.
He explained that his primary responsibility was to convey Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) approvals and the percentage allocated to the Bureau as running cost.
Bishop maintained that JAAC had approved the relevant payment and that the Auditor-General for Local Governments was the official who contacted the bank for payment pursuant to the mandate.
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