…Assures defects will be addressed

…Threatens to blacklist contractors over defects

Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has defended the construction of 268 smart green schools across the state, assuring residents that structural defects and other challenges identified in some facilities will be addressed.

Mbah gave the assurance during a town hall meeting, where he explained that the state government deliberately adopted an accelerated approach to the construction of the schools to ensure that every child in Enugu had access to quality education.

According to the governor, the scale of the projects delivered within three years would ordinarily take between 10 and 20 years to accomplish under conventional implementation timelines.

He acknowledged that the speed of execution had resulted in some teething problems, including defects in certain buildings and roofing challenges, but maintained that the government was committed to ensuring that all the facilities were fit for purpose.

“When you have fast-tracked projects at that scale, you are bound to have teething problems, and we are not oblivious of it,” he said, adding that the government was resolved to address the identified shortcomings.

Mbah explained that the decision to build 268 smart green schools was driven by the administration’s determination to expand access to quality education rather than concentrate resources on a few model institutions.

Participants at the Town Hall meeting

He said the government could have opted to construct only three smart schools, one in each senatorial zone, or 17 schools across the state, but chose a broader approach to reach more children.

“We said every child in this state must have access to quality learning, and we did 268 smart green schools,” the governor stated.

He stressed that the administration would not abandon the projects because of the defects identified, adding that corrective measures were already part of the government’s response.

The governor’s remarks come amid concerns over defects reported in some of the newly constructed school facilities.

He maintained that the administration remained committed to ensuring that the projects delivered their intended educational benefits to pupils across Enugu State.

Mbah Threatens to Blacklist Contractors Over Defective School Projects

Governor Mbah also  warned contractors handling the state’s smart green school projects that they will face consequences for failing to address defects in their work.

Mbah gave the warning while responding to questions about structural defects and other problems reported in some of the 268 smart green schools constructed by his administration.

The governor said the government had records of the contractors responsible for the projects and would require those whose work was found defective to return to their sites and carry out necessary repairs.

He, however, warned that contractors who refused to comply with the government’s directives would be blacklisted.

“For those that have been recalcitrant, we blacklist. And there are consequences for that,” he said.

Mbah explained that although the projects were executed on an accelerated timeline to expand access to quality education, the fast-tracked approach did not absolve contractors of responsibility for the quality of their work.

He also disclosed that the government obtained advance payment guarantees from the contractors, providing an additional mechanism for enforcing compliance where necessary.

“We do have an option to call those up if it becomes necessary,” the governor said, referring to the guarantees.

The administration has come under scrutiny over reported defects in some of the newly constructed school buildings, including roofing and other structural concerns.

Mbah acknowledged the existence of such challenges but described them as issues the government was determined to resolve.

He said the overriding objective was to ensure that all the smart green schools were fit for purpose and capable of providing the learning environment intended by the state government.

The governor’s comments signal the administration’s intention to hold contractors accountable while continuing its investment in education infrastructure across Enugu State.

The Federal High Court, presided over by Honourable Justice Aluko, has granted an application by United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc for substituted service of Form 49 on directors of Wempco named as alleged contemnors in the case of UBA v. Wempco.

The application forms part of proceedings seeking to determine whether the named individuals disobeyed an order of the court and whether they should be committed to prison for contempt.

The directors named as alleged contemnors are Lewis Shui Ngor Tung, Phillip Shui Chei Tung, M.A. Ola Yusuf, Tung Lawrence Blake, Aali Aare Hadji Tokunbo, Paul Shui Po Tung, Tung Robert, C.L. Ip and Taiwo Alli.

In advancing the application, counsel to UBA argued that service of Form 49 on the alleged contemnors was necessary to enable them to appear before the court and show cause why an order of committal should not be made against them.

He also argued that the Directors of Wempco and some members of staff took illegal steps in an attempt to disobey the Order of Court.

The court’s decision to grant substituted service provides a procedural step towards bringing the notice to the attention of the individuals concerned in accordance with the court’s directions.

Form 49 is a notice requiring an alleged contemnor to show cause why an order of committal to prison should not be made against them for alleged disobedience of a court order.

The Federal High Court had earlier made an Order of Mareva Injunction and appointed a Receiver/Manager over some of the Assets of Wempco following the indebtedness of Wempco to UBA in the sum of N61,445,695,993.76 (Sixty One Billion FourHundred and Forty-Five Million Six Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety Three Naira, Seventy Six Kobo).

A Lagos State High Court has granted interim preservative orders, including a Mareva injunction, in favour of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc in a dispute involving the alleged diversion of petroleum products valued at $242 million.

The orders, granted last Thursday by Justice K. A. Jose, followed allegations by UBA that Vitol SA, a Switzerland-based energy trading company, wrongfully released cargoes of petroleum products consigned to the bank in the bills of lading.

UBA’s lead counsel, Bode Olanipekun, SAN, urged the court to grant the interim orders to preserve assets and prevent the dissipation of funds pending the determination of the substantive dispute.

In her ruling, Justice Jose granted three of the prayers sought by the bank, including requests to restrain dealings with assets and funds up to the disputed amount.

“Prayers 1–3 are granted as prayed against the 2nd Respondent only,” the judge ruled.

The application was brought pursuant to Order 43 Rule 1 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and the Lagos State High Court Practice Direction No. 2 of 2019.

In the substantive proceedings, UBA is seeking to establish the liability of Vitol SA and the owners of the vessels over alleged conversion, misrepresentation and negligence arising from the non-delivery of the petroleum products.

The bank also cited 34 financial institutions and public agencies, including commercial banks, merchant banks, microfinance banks, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigeria Customs Service, in connection with the application.

In an affidavit supporting the application, UBA’s Group Head of Recoveries and Remedial Management, Anthony Chilaka, stated that the bank had issued a letter of credit in favour of Vitol SA to facilitate petroleum products transactions.

According to the affidavit, the cargoes were transported to Nigeria, and the masters of the vessels issued several bills of lading.

UBA alleged that Vitol subsequently endorsed the bills of lading “to the order of” the bank and handed over the original documents to it.

The bank maintained that the endorsement entitled it to take possession of the cargoes upon completion of the voyages.

However, Chilaka stated that UBA had not received the gasoil despite the completion of the voyages.

“The applicant has not been given possession of the gasoil despite completion of the voyage,” the affidavit stated.

UBA alleged that the cargoes were instead diverted for the use of another party, arguing that the failure to deliver the products amounted to conversion and negligence.

The bank further contended that the respondents had obligations arising from the transactions and the endorsement of the shipping documents but failed to fulfil them.

UBA also alleged that cargoes linked to the transactions were diverted to other parties after the completion of their voyages rather than delivered to the bank as stipulated in the shipping documents.

The allegations are expected to be determined in the substantive proceedings.