Published 4th Feb, 2022

By Yakubu Mohammed

In September 2020, employees of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, entered an agreement with Whitehorse Capital Ltd. to supply vehicles to them. One year later, the company has only delivered two out of 58 vehicles requested.

Obabiyi Basheer Ayobamiji, chairman, Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals Research Institutes and Associated Institutions at the centre, told FIJ that Ayoade Adenekan, the company’s south west head of operations, introduced the company to them.

After Ayoade had watered the ground, Paul Ndi Oyemike, the CEO of Whitehorse Capital Ltd., travelled from Abuja to Abeokuta to hold meetings with the medical workers.

“He had three consecutive meetings with us before we entered into the agreement,” Obabiyi said.

FIJ learned that the company supplies fairly-used cars to civil servants with a payment plan spanning three years. “We are expected to make a partial payment, while we balance up the outstanding in a period of two or three years,” he said.

“The agreement was that we would pay 30 percent for each car we ordered,” said Obabiyi. “We then ordered 58 vehicles and the initial payment, according to the agreed percentage, was N22,000,600.”

According to him, the vehicles would be delivered within six to eight weeks after payment to the company’s account domiciled in Heritage Bank.

“We made the payment in September 2020, hoping we would start receiving the vehicles the following month,” said Obabiyi.

Surprisingly, only one car was delivered on November 14, 2020, according to Obabiyi. Two weeks later, another car was delivered, making two out of 58 vehicles.

The medical workers have tried many approaches to press home their demands, but all efforts proved abortive. Several complaints have been filed against the company, but it seems to enjoy the protection of the authorities.

“In August, we wrote to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), but nothing good has come out so far,” Obabiyi said.

He said some staff members angered by the fraudulent conduct of the company have been demanding a refund.

Oyemike, the CEO of the company, has been evading chances to dialogue with the affected workers. According to Obabiyi, he has been giving dates without fulfilling his promises.

His contact lines were disabled about a few days ago, according to Obabiyi.

When FIJ tried to contact him, automated responses revealed his lines were switched off.

NOT THE FIRST TIME

Over 100 personnel of the Federal Fire Service, Abuja, were rendered helpless by Whitehorse Capital Ltd. in July 2021, FIJ learned.

Just like he did to workers of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, the company approached the staff of the Federal Fire Service, filching millions of naira without delivering the vehicles they subscribed for.

When FIJ contacted Chinedu Onyemachalu, a staff member of the company’s administrative department, he revealed that the company closed down in July 2021 after breaching several agreements.

“Many angry customers had invaded our office, parting with valuable properties,” Chinedu said. “The company closed down to avoid embarrassment.”

Asked about the whereabouts of the CEO, he said he had been unreachable since last year.

“We cannot reach him via the phone. We don’t know where he has been,” Chinedu told FIJ.

However, he assured FIJ that once everything returns to normal, the vehicle would be distributed to the subscribers.

BUREAUCRACY DELAYS PETITIONS

Advent Boniface, a superintending officer at the ICPC, told FIJ that though angry FMC workers unanimously petitioned the agency, there are procedures guiding such submissions.

Noting that ICPC may lack the power to investigate and prosecute, he said there are about 10 procedures that petitions go through before a final decision.

“At the receipt of a petition, it would be reviewed,” Advent stated. “You have to identify the offense, the suspect(s), evidence and witnesses.”

“Then you move to investigations and strategies. After investigations, there’s going to be another review,” he said. “There is evaluation of evidence. At this point, it means there is a prima facie case which would lead to drafting of charges and many other procedures.”

Advent said he would advise the complainants to write a reminder to the ICPC chairman to achieve their purpose.

Speaking with FIJ, Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC spokesman, said: “You said you received a complaint; how are you going to resolve their complaints since you are the agency now? I wouldn’t know If they have written a petition.”

If the workers have written a petition, said Wilson, they should wait until the commission picks interest in the case.

Obabiyi told FIJ that the FCID officers were aware that the office was under lock and key.

“The last time I went to Abuja, the police followed me to the company’s premises, but we found it locked,” he said.

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