In reaction to reports that Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has uncovered fraud with respect to the contracts for the residences of Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives and other principal officers of the National Assembly, FCT Administration, FCTA, has said the media might have misrepresented facts or quoted the committee out of context.

A statement by Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi, Special Assistant, Media, to the FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Muhammed, FCTA said: ‘’On the Vice-President’s official residence contract awarded in 2009 at N7 billion and allegedly reviewed to N16 billion, we wish to categorically state that the contract has not been reviewed at all and still stands at the original contract sum of about N7 billion.’’

Concerning the site of the official quarters of presiding officers of the National Assembly, which was alleged in the media reports to be non-existent but for which 50% of contract sum had been allegedly released as mobilisation, FCTA said only 15% of the contract sum had been paid.

The statement said: “It should be noted that the proposed Senate President and Deputy Senate President’s residences are located on Plot Nos. 324, 326 & 328 at Maitama Extension District, CAD ZONE AO5.

“Those proposed for Speaker of House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker are on Plot Nos. 458, 459 & 460, at the same Maitama Extension District, CAD ZONE AO5.”