Akwa Ibom Activist Demands Contract Records from Contractor-Politician

A public affairs commentator, Ita Benedict, has asked the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Works to reveal details of all contracts given to Hensek Integrated Services Ltd by the state government over the last 11 years.

Mr Benedict made a Freedom of Information request on 31 August, which he sent to the State Commissioner for Works and shared with PREMIUM TIMES. He wants records of contracts awarded to the company from January 2015 to August 2026. This includes procurement documents, contract sums, variations, payments, and completion certificates.

His request comes as questions rise about public procurement in the state. There are concerns about the link between government contracts and political activities involving the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hensek Integrated Services, Uwem Okoko.

Mr Okoko is also the President-General of the Arise With Renewed Hope Initiative. This political group is working to support President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Governor Umo Eno, and the All Progressives Congress.

Hensek has become one of the main contractors for various administrations in Akwa Ibom, including former Governor Udom Emmanuel's and the current administration under Mr Eno.

Mr Benedict believes his request is in the public interest. He wants to promote transparency, open contracting, and accountability regarding the state’s infrastructure spending.

Details Requested in FOI

The applicant wants the ministry to provide verified records showing the procurement method used for each contract. This includes evidence of approval or a no-objection certificate from the relevant state procurement authority.

He has also requested copies of advertisements or invitations to tender, bidding documents, technical and financial evaluation criteria, bid evaluation reports, and recommendations from the relevant tenders board.

Other documents include formal letters of award, executed contracts, bills of quantities, detailed scopes of work, contract durations, and agreed completion dates.

Mr Benedict further wants records showing the completion status of each project. This includes interim evaluation reports, final inspection certificates, and notices of termination where applicable.

He also seeks the original contract sums, approved variations, scope amendments, price adjustments, revisions to contract values, payment schedules, interim valuation certificates, and the total amount given for each contract.

He cited Section 24(e) of the 1999 Constitution and the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, as the legal basis for his request. He asked the ministry to respond within seven working days, as stated in Section 4 of the FOI Act. If they refuse, he expects written reasons for it.

Contractor with Political Ties

This request brings more focus on Mr Okoko, who is both a major public works contractor and a key figure in the state's political mobilization.

Mr Okoko leads the Arise With Renewed Hope Initiative, which supports the political interests of Mr Tinubu, Mr Akpabio, and Mr Eno in Akwa Ibom.

The group is also involved in rallying support for the APC in the state. The mix of public contracting and political mobilization raises questions about transparency. It also raises concerns about the management of public contracts involving politically active contractors.

These issues are especially important in a state where government agencies do not often publish enough procurement information. This makes it hard for the public to check how contracts were awarded and their values.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Mr Eno sought powers to skip bidding for multi-billion-naira contracts. The paper also reported that a contractor got a state job without bidding, raising questions about abuse of power in Akwa Ibom’s procurement system.

Mr Okoko’s political activities started before his current role in the APC mobilization structure. During Mr Emmanuel’s administration, he served as coordinator of the Maintain Peace Movement in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area. This movement was a political platform for facilitating political transition before the 2023 elections.

Mr Benedict’s FOI request covers both the Emmanuel and Eno administrations. It could help compare Hensek’s government contracts across the two administrations. If the Ministry of Works provides the requested records, it could shed light on Hensek’s role in state-funded infrastructure projects. This includes whether contracts were given fairly, how contract values changed, and if projects were finished on time.

The documents could also show whether procurement rules were followed consistently across administrations. As of now, the Ministry of Works has not publicly responded to the FOI request.

PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm if any contracts awarded to Hensek broke procurement laws or if Mr Okoko’s political activities affected any contract awards. The FOI request aims to gather official records to help clarify these questions.