By Chris Ochayi
ABUJA—The Federal Government yesterday set up a six-man panel to investigate series of allegations of gross misconduct and financial mismanagement levelled against the suspended former Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Arc. Terver Gemade.

Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Nduese Essien, while announcing the development, charged the panel to submit its findings within three weeks.

The panel, which is headed by the Director, Finance and Accounts, in the Ministry, Mr. Usman Abubakar, has other members as the Deputy Director, Development Control, Mr. Abubakar Lawal, Deputy Director, Architectural Services, Mrs. Aina Bello and the Special Assistant (Technical) to the Minister, Mr. Peter Okpanachi.

Others are Assistant Director, Structures, Mr. Paul Ekwelibe and Assistant Director of Lands, Mr. Ayo Oniemola, who will serve as secretary.

The panel is expected to, among other things, investigate series of allegations of misconduct and financial mismanagement or otherwise, levelled against the former FHA boss.

It is also expected to determine the activities or otherwise of the former managing director with regards to the core mandate of the authority.

Others terms of reference given the panel include recommending appropriate disciplinary measures for the  former MD and any other staff whose action or inaction might have contributed to the alleged misconduct as well as make appropriate recommendations that would reposition the Authority to deliver on its mandate.

The Minister tasked members of the panel to carry out their assignment with due diligence and come up with a report that would assist in taking an informed decision on the matter.

Meanwhile, Essien has ordered contractors handling contracts under the Millennium Development Goals projects in the country to mobilise to site immediately.

He said any contractor, who was awarded a job on August 20, 2010 and has not mobilised to site, would have such contract terminated and their names forwarded to anti-graft agencies.

He said: “we have sent teams to inspect the projects all over the country and we will ensure that any contractor that failed to mobilise to site will have such contracts terminated.

“We will not only terminate the jobs but will also hand such persons to the anti-corruption agencies to recover the mobilization fees paid to them.

“The Federal Government will ensure that Nigerians get value for its investments in development projects and will not fail to deal with any contractor found to have breached the terms of contract agreement signed with the government.”