Fraud: Group exposes how funds meant for renovation of abandoned Classrooms are allegedly diverted in Kogi

By Mark Akudu, kogi

Funds meant for the renovation of classroom blocks in Acharu Egume under Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State have been allegedly diverted.

This is according to a recent investigation by Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre, WAMAC which was aired on a private radio station Grace FM in their weekly program tagged kpuff corruption.

The investigation, which was monitored by our correspondent in Lokoja revealed that Acharu Egume, an ancient community in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, has long faced educational neglect.

According to the NGO findings, “Despite being in dire need of a junior secondary school, the community has never had the privilege of one. Years ago, the government constructed a block of four classrooms to serve the community.

“However, this structure was left unfurnished, and no staff were posted to the school. Eventually, the building was abandoned, and over time, wind damage and fire further deteriorated the structure.

“In 2022, the community’s hopes were rekindled when a representative from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), identified Okpanachi, promised renovations.

“However, wadata investigative team visited the community and gathered that, instead of addressing the main block, he allegedly redirected resources to a structure used by primary school pupils tagged UBEC/SUBEB/RN/071/21 for smaller expenses, leaving the original building in disrepair”.

A leader of the community said “We were shocked when the supervisor of the project named Okpanachi came and started to do renovation on the primary school. At first, we thought he came to resuscitate the Junior Secondary School which was long abandoned because of the dilapidated structure. When he came, Okpanachi told us that he was supposed to renovate the junior secondary School here in Ocharu but decided to switch to the primary session since the other one is not functioning.

The Ogohi Atah Acharu, HRH Abdul Usman Omale narrated how lack of the government’s attention to the school has brought the community backward.

“As you can see for yourself, things are backward in our community. Our Children usually trek several miles just to attend good school. On countless occasions, our Children have been exposed to dangers because of the spate of insecurity in the Country. Am using this medium to appeal to the Kogi State Government to come to our aid.

“If what we hear is that money meant for the rehabilitation of the Junior Secondary School was diverted, whoever is found culpable should be arrested and brought to book. The present generation will be at risk tomorrow if they fail to have access to qualitative education which is the bedrock of any nation. Acharu community needs good schools with Teachers so that the future of our Children can be secured”.

The Community leader, Jonathan Okpanachi and Elder Jeremiah Onugba narrated their ordeals with the contractor despite their parsuation for him to work on the main abandoned building.

According to them” When he (Okpanachi) came to Acharu to execute the project, we told him clearly that he should focus on what he was sent to do, which is the renovation of the Junior Secondary School. To our greatest dismay, he never listened to our cry and still went ahead to do what he wanted. Since we were helpless, there was nothing we could do but to align with him. We are calling on the Government to investigate the matter if what we are hearing is true”.

Wadata investigative team contacted Mr Okpanachi to hear his own side of the story, but he said he was there to supervise the project not as the contractor.

He refused to disclose who was the contractor that handled the project which means there’s hiding secrecy that calls for questioning.

“I am not the contractor for the project. I don’t know the contractor. It was a company that somebody represented and at that time they did their work. The building is not separated. I don’t know the one that is junior or senior Secondary School. The contract was for the renovation of four class rooms and it has been done for over two years.

“Those communities are some how. Something that we have done for the past two years, why are they complaining now? It was only the headmaster and headmistress that was there when the contractors started the work. They wrote a letter of appreciation to SUBEB Lokoja for the work done”.

The Wadata investigative team also gathered that the renovation of the original block was supposed to include fresh roofing, repairs of doors and windows, ceiling work, tiling, and painting.

Reacting to the alleged diversion, the civil society activist, Success Adejo, condemned the act and called on the government to as a matter of urgency investigate and address the situation.

He said, “if there is an action like that, it is a total fraud. If money is not spent for the purpose of what it was intended for, then it is absolute fraud and needs to be looked into. If you were to construct two primary school blocks and you went ahead to construct one block, that is absolute fraud. Because what was initially budgeted for is not what was done.

” If you are to do a project for primary school and you diverted the money to build another School, that is absolute division from the original intention in which that contract was signed. It is absolute fraud which should be investigated. The government should as a matter of importance monitor every project that they have awarded. When you award a project and you don’t do monitoring, then you are off the track”.

The team made an effort to speak with the management of the SUBEB but proved abortive as they could not respond to our visit, calls and the letter.