As the issue of the issue of the alleged contract scam which swept-off former Imo State Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, is gradually dying, the contractor at the centre of the storm, Joseph Dina, and owner of Jpross International, is said to have disappeared with (N900) Nine hundred million naira belonging to Imo people, as Government is alleged to have voted a fresh (N100) one hundred naira for completion the road project.
When our reporter visited the contentious road in question (Sam Mbakwe road) that runs from Orlu-Warehouse-Nworie-Amaigbo Road in Owerri, the state capital, workers were busy with their jobs, but it was not clear to decipher which company has now taken over the completion of the road, as all the Hilux vehicles on the site have Imo State Government plate numbers.
None of the workers spoken to was ready to volunteer information about the completion of the road.
It would be recalled that the road was said to have been awarded to Jpross at the sum of N1.3bn with an over payment of (N200m) Two hundred million naira, making it a total of N1.5b naira.
However, when the contract scam and allegation of bribery against Sir Jude Agbaso broke out, Imo House of Assembly delved into the matter.
In the process, it was unraveled that out of the N1.5B, the sum of N458m (four hundred and fifty eight million naira) was allegedly given to Jude Agbaso by Mr Dina.
And when ministry of works was asked, it testified to the House of Assembly that after evaluation on the road, the quality of job Jpross did was evaluated at (N190m) one hundred and ninety million naira.
Therefore, since Dina alleged he gave Agbaso N458m, and ministry of works agreed Jpross was paid N190 for the job done, it means the sum of N900m (nine hundred million naira) being money paid to JPross from the State coffers is still missing, or being held by Dina.
In the recommendation given by the House of Assembly report, the committee said Jpross should be banished from Imo State. It was later learnt that the same House has given the ministry of works and the Attorney General of the State and Commissioner of Justice, to not only ensure that Imo money is recovered but also ensure completion of the road.
Sources told Trumpeta that Imo State Government has allegedly made available the sum of (one hundred million naira) for the job to be completed.
When Trumpeta called the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Nick Oparadudu on phone, who had easrler confirmed that work has resumed on the road and his ministry taken necessary steps to comply to House of assembly directives, however failed to confirm the amount as he promised to get back to the Newspaper before press time.
However, the question many on many lips of Imolites who are disturbed by the developments is that if N100m can complete the road contract, why pay N1.5B to a contractor who has made away with N900m?
