Documents Reveal How Oyetola’s Commissioner, Banik Allegedly Got, Abandoned N57m Road Project In Osun

• I Did Not Get Any Contract – Banik Insists

Fresh facts have emerged on the ongoing face-off between the immediate past commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Osun State, Prince Adebayo Adeleke (Banik), and the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Political Matters, Alhaji Muniru Raji.

In the last few weeks, the duo have been at loggerheads over an allegation that the former was awarded a road contract during the tenure of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, which he allegedly executed in a sub-standard way and abandoned.

According to Adeleke’s Political Adviser, the contract, a 2.1km rehabilitation of Igbona Market-Agowande- Oke-Onitea-West-Bypass Junction was awarded to one Toniade Construction Limited, Osogbo.

Raji also alleged that the company is a division of Banik Investment Limited, owned by the former commissioner.

He also alleged that Banik, a former Peoples Democratic Party chieftain did not complete the project, calling for necessary investigation into it.

Banik, however, did not spare the allegation and petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, saying he was never awarded any contract during Oyinlola’s government.

The situation has caused a controversy in the political space with supporters of the two chieftains of the APC and PDP exchanging banters.

READ: GWR: Osun Federal Lawmakers, Commissioner Visit Ajao As He Hits 100 Hours In Record-Breaking Attempt

Meanwhile, the media team of Alhaji Raji has released some documents to back their claim that Banik was indeed awarded the contract.

In the documents obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, it was observed that the contract was awarded to Toniade Constitution Limited, Osogbo.

In one of the documents dated 19th January 2006, the project commenced on July 09, 2005, for six months with a contract sum of N57,390,160,00.

The document stated that the sum of N17, 217,048. was paid to the company as of the date.

In another document, the State Ministry of Works and Transport in a letter dated 28 November 2006, sent to the project manager of the construction company, accused the company of using unsuitable and unapproved material for the road rehabilitation.

The letter was signed by one Engr O.L Olawusi who was the Superintending Engineer.

Also, another document from the deputy director of finance, I. A Ibrahim showed that the state government on June 22, 2005, issued a cheque of N14, 892,746,67 to Banik Investment Limited.

The cheque was ordered to be released to Toniade Construction Company for Banik Investment Limited. The receipt was ordered to bear Banik Investment Limited.

Also, another document dated 30th November 2005, accused the construction company of non-compliance with materials specifications.

On the 14th of December, 2006, a letter was sent to the construction company by one Engr Z.O Ategbero for the Permanent Secretary, accusing the company of using unsuitable and unapproved materials.

The letter which condemned the action advised the company to desist from the unethical practice.

Another letter from the Highways Department sent to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the construction company, expressed the displeasure of the state government over the abandonment of the project site and the delay in completing the work.

The letter dated 2nd October 2009, directed the contractor to resume back to site within two weeks of receiving the letter.

Raji’s media team in a statement said it came up with the documents to counter Banik’s claim that he did not get the contract.

The statement further reads, “We want to state categorically that our principal’s remark that Banik abandoned the contract he was awarded during the Prince Oyinlola Government has indeed been substantiated by public records that are now available for public scrutiny.

“Interestingly, Banik’s memory was sharp to think that the said contract, a massive project for the rehabilitation of Igbonna Market – Agowande – Oke Oniti ring road was after all awarded in the name of Toniade Construction Company, A Division of Banik Investment Company Limited.

“It is however laughable that Banik in his wide imagination thought a project of that magnitude would be freely awarded by a State Government without proper documentation and records domiciled at the supervising ministry.

“Again, we suspect that Banik has forgotten the said Toniade Construction Company is a division of Banik Investment Company Limited, a company he is by law, a Director at that time and funny enough, payment in batches for the execution of the project was paid directly to Banik.

“Subsequently, the Nigerian Police informed Alhaji Muniru that a petition was submitted to its office against him. It is on record that Alhaji Muniru was not arrested nor was he detained”, the statement read.

But in a swift reaction, Banik’s media team in a statement, insisted that the former commissioner did not get any contract.

The statement challenged the Ministry of Works and Raji to come out with evidence that Banik company received money on behalf of the construction company.

It reads in part, “A critical look at the documents being circulated will show that nowhere was it indicated that Banik secured contract as alleged. All the correspondences being circulated were done to Toniade Construction Company and not BANIK Investment Limited.

“So, all these efforts by Muniru and his co-travellers in the journey of doom were mere distractions when it was clear to them that their demigod has run foul of the law and they are looking for everything legally or illegally possible to nail the Prince of Peace who has resolved to legally pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.

“They know that the police have resolved to take the next legal steps over the local champion, Muniru by charging him to court and defend his nonsense, but they believe that misleading the public with irrelevant documents would save him.

“As they have been making unsuspecting members of the public to believe, we challenge them to release a genuine Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) document showing that BANIK Investment Limited owns Toniade Construction Company Limited. We also challenge them to show letter of award of the said contract to BANIK Investment Limited.

“To show that they are mischievous, why is it that only the letters to Toniade by the Ministry of Works were the ones being circulated. Where are the responses of Toniade to the ministry on the subject matter? The Ministry should explain why cheques were written in the name of Banik Investment and who gave them the instruction to do so. This unintelligent display of ploy to save a drowning adviser has ignited a need for the law enforcement agencies to question the ministry over its admission that it paid Banik for a contract it awarded to Toniade.

“Banik, without mincing words never denied getting cheques on his company name but challenged the Ministry of Works and Muniru and co to produce the documents that made them pay to Banik Investment.

“When we get to court, it will clear to the public that these mediocres are so poor in knowledge and understanding for them to think that the Ministry of Works will award a contract to company A and pay to company B.

“While we are stating unequivocally that BANIK is a registered company and qualified to bid for any contract, the allegations on the contract under reference was nothing but lies from the pit of hell and laughable.

“However, regardless of their antics, BANIK is determined to pursue this matter and Muniru will have every oportunity to defend himself in the court of law and present whatever evidence to justify his allegations, instead of dying before the real death,” the former commissioner said.