Francis Aiyegbeni, D’Rovans Owner Involved in NPA Contract Scam

Francis Aiyegbeni, D’Rovans Owner Involved in NPA Contract Scam
By Seyi Oduyela/Washington DC

Though the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) may not have mentioned the beneficiaries of the contract Scam and how much was involved, African Interest checks show, out of about 219 contracts that were allegedly awarded between April 2004 and June 2006 for the purchase of various forms of equipments valued at a total sum of N1, 716, 276, 814, about N1, 329, 731, 814 was frittered away through over invoicing. An independent market survey and price analysis however, placed the total contract cost at N344, 482, 000.

Investigations by Africa Reporter further revealed that some of the companies that benefited from the contract award operated without proper registration while some of the contractors cornered different contracts using different business names. Our investigation revealed that the owners of AF and F Security Limited are also joint owners of Takie-Way Communications Limited, Fodacis and Co Nigeria Limited as well as Rovans Construction Company Limited. The Owners are Francis Aiyegbeni, F.O Aiyegbeni, Pastove Robles, Faith Aiyegbeni and Roy C Aiyegbeni. Others are Francis Oria and Griffitta Ayoola. These companies, according to our investigation, have been traced to one source, Mr. Francis Aiyegbeni, the Proprietor of D’Rovans Hotel. Mr. Aiyegbeni, who is also known for his interest in boxing, became an NPA contractor when he met late General Gumel, the then Minister of Transport under late General Abacha. Our investigation also revealed that all the names on the companies are Mr. Aiyegbeni’s children. Aiyegbeni planted one of his nephews at the Port Authority. Our source at the NPA disclosed that one of his nephews (names withheld) was brought from Germany to work at the Nigerian Port Authority and since the late 90s he has been an inside man for Mr. Aiyegbeni. Effort to contact Mr. Aiyegbeni for comment is still on.

Editor:
The contractors, how much was involved and many more. It is promising, chilling details of how Nigeria was fleeced from April 2004- June 2006. African Reporter has the names of companies and what they allegedly supplied and at what price.