Nigerian Army takes over Jonathan’s cousin’s firm?

– Kakatar CE Limited, a construction company owned by Azibaola Robert, a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan has been occupied by the Nigerian Army

– The workers were asked to leave the premises while all egresses were blocked off

– Army reportedly declares that the location of the firm is at security risk because of occasional rock blasting operations

There are indications that the Nigerian Army has occupied the premises of Kakatar CE, a Nigerian indigenous civil engineering construction firm situated close to Lungi Army Barracks and owned by Azibaola Robert, a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to a statement made available to NAIJ.com, a top official in the company who chose to remain anonymous, revealed that the Nigerian Army is claiming that the location of the firm is at security risk because of occasional rock blasting operations.

The source disclosed that work on a legitimate contract was stopped abruptly and all workers asked to leave the premises while all egresses were blocked off – no entry, no exit.

READ ALSO: Jonathan’s cousin facing EFCC charges still in prison

Aside top executives at the company, the action by the military didn’t also go down well with the Nigerian public, not excluding notable personalities like Chief Femi Falana (SAN).

According to Falana, it is an illegal and unconstitutional action without following court or judicial processes.

Reports have it that Kaka­tar is building infrastructure for Maitama Extension and Kyami Districts just in the Federal Capital Ter­ritory (FCT) alone.

The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in 2011 awarded the contract for the infrastructural development of Maitama Extension District to Kakatar, and work is progressing on the project.

The Maitama Extension District Infrastructure Project is Kakatar’s flagship and one of the newest District projects in the FCT. And it is the first District’s infrastructural development project in the history of Abuja to be awarded to a wholly indigenous Nigerian construction and engineering firm.

The scope of work involves, but not limited to the construction of 23 kilometres length of road of various types; One Interchange structure; Bridge; 26.4 kilometres length of storm water line of various sizes; 31.8 kilometres length of four sewer line of various sizes; 38.7 kilometres length of water supply line of various sizes with all relevant accessories; Booster pump station and 1000m3 clean water reservoir; Network of electricity distribution and telecommunication ducts; 33KV/11KV injection substation; 11/0.415KV transformer; Underground cables for distribution and plot connections.

The federal government 2016 budget has also made a provision of N2.5billion for the payment of outstanding liabilities and for continuation of work on the district.

Kakatar also claims that the military authorities were duly notified at commencement of work and gave consent for work to commence.

The company added that it is legally occupying the land allotted to it by the custodian of All Lands in the FCT, to execute the job and it is not aware of any dispute pertaining to ownership of land.

“Kakatar has always enjoyed warm, cordial relationship with its host communities in areas where it is executing projects. Our host communities, including the military, have always benefited from our corporate social responsibilities (CSR). And we support the military to provide official security on our Maitama site, for which we are grateful,” the source added.

READ ALSO: Dasukigate: Jonathan’s cousin, Robert paid $40m

NAIJ.com recalls that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on March 23, arrested Azibaola Robert over the alleged diversion of $40m through a firm, One-Plus Holdings, which is a sister company of Kakatar Construction and Engineering Company Limited, through an allegedly phone‎y contract to secure oil pipelines.

Robert is a prominent entrepreneur from the Niger Delta with large businesses in the construction and engineering sectors.

It is believed that his present EFCC ordeal may have no relationship with these alleged contracts but may be connected to a transaction at the former NSA’s office, which had two of his companies Kakatar and Oneplus Holdings mentioned amongst 300 other companies and individuals across the country by the NSA contracts verification committee.

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