Road reconstruction controversy: RCCG tenders apology over mix-up

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has tendered apology over a petition it wrote against the Federal Ministry of Works accusing them of corruption.

Representative of the religious body, Niyi Adebanjo who apologised on behalf of the Church at the Ethics, Priviledges and Public Petitions Committee of the Senate on Thursday, said, the petition was meant to nip the perceived corruption involving Ife-Ifewara road and wasn’t targeted at Babatunde Fashola as a person.

CAPITAL POST reporter who monitored the proceedings of the Committee reports that Pastor Adebanjo told the Senator Ayo Akinyelure led Committee that in their thinking, the Federal Ministry of Works was approving another payment for a road that was rehabilitated by the RCCG.

The Clergy maintained that the road was rehabilitated by the Redeemed Christian Church of God under its Corporate Social Responsibility.

“The rehabilitation of the road was awarded and paid for by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, hence any further claim by any company should be seen as illegal and unjust,” Mr Adebanjo said.

Earlier in the proceeding, the representative of the Federal.Ministry of Works demanded an apology from RCCG, saying there was no payment of the road for any construction company as alledged in the petition.

Niyi Adebanjo said: Ministry of Works and Housing deserves an apology from us and because the whole world is listening to us, I tender that apology. Unreservedly,” he said.

In the petition submitted by Mr Adebanjo on behalf of Mr Adeboye, the ministry in 2016 and 2019 paid N151 million to Cartil Construction Company as part payment for the road reconstruction.

According to the RCCG, the construction firm claimed the sum as reimbursement for the reconstruction of the road, which the church constructed.

“The rehabilitation of the road was awarded and paid for by Pastor Enoch Adeboye in the sum of N188,440,342, hence the claim by CARTIL Construction Nigeria Limited was illegal and unjust, ” he said.

The Minister of Works, Babatunde insisted that there was no payment made in favour of Cartil Construction Company Limited in respect of the said rehabilitation between 2016 and 2019 as contrarily claimed in the petition submitted to the National.Assembly.

He said that no payment was made by the current administration with respect to the rehabilitation of the road.

Mr Fashola stated that the contract was awarded to Messrs Cartill Construction Nigeria Limited five years before the Buhari Administration and six years before he was appointed as a Minister of Works and Housing.