In this investigation, WarriReporters uncovers how a former Senator representing Abia North senatorial district, Mao Ohuabunwa, used his brother’s company — Masta Services Ltd to secure contracts for his constituency projects, and failed to deliver the projects to specifications.
Between 1999 and 2007, Ohuabunwa represented Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and Abia North senatorial district from 2015-2019. Records have shown that constituency projects in Abia North Senatorial district by different ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the federal government were awarded to Masta Engineering Services, a company owned by Senator Ohuabunwa’s immediate family. But he also ensured that the projects were awarded to his brother’s company, in total disregard for the procurement law.
One of the projects awarded to the company was Ndi Ebe Abam Bridge that over N40 million was paid by Anambra Imo River Basin Development Authority. Residents from the company told our correspondent that the company abandoned the project afterwards and carted away the construction materials under the watch of Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.
Another project abandoned under Ohuabunwa is the Ozu Abam – Ndi Okereke Arochukwu road awarded to his younger brother’s company, Masta Services Ltd which money was paid for but the project was abandoned.
Kalu Ndukwe, an indigene of Abam, in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State told our correspondent that Senator Mao Ohuabunwa failed the Constituency when he represented them at the National Assembly.
“Arochukwu Local Government Area where Mao Ohuabunwa comes from has the worst roads in Abia State, yet he was at the National Assembly for twelve years. Most of the projects he attracted were abandoned like the Ozu Abam-Ndi Okereke Arochukwu road and Ndi Ebe Abam bridge. Today our people are suffering because of Mao Ohuabunwa’s failure,” he said.
Our correspondent reports that Senator Mao Ohuabunwa is the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Abia North senatorial district in the 2023 general election. It was alleged that he emerged under controversial circumstances.
The constituency projects concept officially known as the Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIPs), was introduced in 2000 to federal lawmakers – senators and members of the House of Representatives – the opportunity of nominating projects considered to be of paramount importance to their constituents.
As of 2019, an estimated N2 trillion has been budgeted for the ZIPs since inception in 2000, according to the ICPC.
The commission said each of the ZIP projects tracked in the second phase of CEPTI, for instance, cost N100 million and above.
But despite the huge yearly allocations, the ICPC said, citizens continue to lament “shoddy completion, non-completion or outright non-existence of these projects in their locale”.
In some instances of violations captured in the report of the second phase of CEPTI, lawmakers allegedly “manipulatively awarded” contracts for the execution of some constituency projects nominated by them to companies in which they, their family members or associates had “substantial interest directly or indirectly”.
When confronted with our findings, a staff of Anambra Imo River Basin Development who preferred not to be named said that constituency projects domiciled in the agency are within the purview of the sponsoring legislator and not the executing agency.
“MDAs have no control over it [constituency project] apart from execution, according to the way it was put in the budget. It is not our project, it is a constituency project executed by our agency and handed over to the sponsor.”
Senator Ohuabunwa did not respond to multiple phone calls for comment.
