The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has launched a manhunt against the contractor handling the Dawaki Dam project in Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The contractor was alleged to have conspired with some civil servants and collected N55m without doing anything on the project site.

A report on the Executive Project Tracking Exercise (Phase 1V) explained that it was discovered in a few situations that contractors would be awarded contracts for projects, funds paid to them but would deliberately refuse to execute the projects.

According to the report, an instance is a project for the construction of Dawaki Dam in Kanke, awarded for N221m by the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (LBRBDA).

The report stated that the contractor was paid N55m, but refused to even visit the project site, let alone construct the dam three years after, adding that the amount was paid in tranches between 2019 and 2021 without any work done at all.

It said, “The commission is investigating how the contractor got paid even in tranches without even mobilizing to the project site. In the interim, the sum of N10m has been recovered in the first instance from the contractor while further investigation continues and other necessary enforcement actions are being taken.”

According to the report, the ICPC had also begun a clampdown on some public officials diverting empowerment items meant for the public.