Reps Reject N1.4m Proceed Of Delta Basin Auctioned 48 Items

House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating disposal of public property has rejected the report by the managing director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority, Mark Derefake.

This is as the lawmakers frowned at the agency’s disposal of 48 items, including vehicles at N1.4 million without details of the cost of the items at procurement.

The committee made its feelings known at a resumed investigative hearing yesterday and directed the managing director to go back and tidy up the records, and re-present to the panel within two days.

The panel further challenged Derefake on the evaluation carried out before an auctioneer was authorised to dispose of the items and advised him to study the Public Procurement Act, before preparing his report.

The chairman of the committee and majority leader of the House, Prof Julius Ihonbvere, said the panel was not satisfied with the explanation as it appeared “the auctioneer just sit down, sell them off and send you N1.4 million as proceed”.

Ihonbvere ruled that, “The MD should go back, look at the procurement law and follow the laid down procedures and make the records available within 48 hours. Go back and adjust your presentation accordingly.

“He is expected to provide the agency’s assets register with the cost at purchase, the auctioneer, and report of independent evaluation before the disposal.”

The managing director had earlier told lawmakers that the said auction was done by representatives of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, and that the proceed might have been reminder after all necessary deductions.

On the presentation by Osun River Basin Authority, Ihonbvere said the content of the documents submitted did not meet the expectations of the committee.

“The report did not follow the outline clearly provided for you and in the advertisements placed in the newspapers.

“It is the view of this committee that we step down this report, please follow our outline and procurement law and present it to the clerk of this committee within 24 hours,” he ruled.