How Contractor Refunded N30.6m Double Payment to Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs

A seasoned Federal Government contractor, James Okwete, has voluntarily returned the sum of N30,604,651.16 to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. This reimbursement follows the inadvertent double payment the contractor received for a successfully executed contract under the tenure of former Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq.

The revelation, gleaned from exclusive documents obtained by The Punch correspondent, discloses that the funds were part of a N35 million contract awarded to Mr. Okwete’s company, Adatech Integrated Services Limited, for the “Design and Development of N-Knowledge Training Manuals for N-Hardware Beneficiaries North-Central (Lot B17)” under the N-Power programme.

The contract, signed on December 29, 2020, and announced on January 4, 2021, was managed by the National Social Investment Programme in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development.

A communication dated April 27, 2021, addressed to the Managing Director of Adatech Integrated Services Limited, highlighted the erroneous double payment, urging the contractor to refund the overpaid amount. The sum of N30,604,651.16 was erroneously credited into the company’s First Bank account.

In response, Adatech Integrated Services Ltd assured the Ministry, in a letter dated June 23, 2021, of their intention to refund and correct the transaction error promptly upon the return of their Director, who was abroad at the time.

A Remita payment document, obtained exclusively by our correspondent, confirmed that on October 13, 2021, the contractor refunded the total sum of N30,604,812.41 to the National Social Investment Programme.

A subsequent letter from Adatech Integrated Services, signed by the company’s Manager, Obi Stanley, expressed regret for any inconvenience caused, providing evidence of the refund, including a confirmation, refund evidence, and a copy of the bank statement highlighting the transaction.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has been under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged financial improprieties. Notably, former Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq, suspended Minister Betta Edu, and suspended former Coordinator Halima Shehu have been implicated in various financial misconduct cases, adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing probe.

This recent development, showcasing the contractor’s integrity in rectifying the payment error, serves as a noteworthy instance of accountability and transparency in government dealings.