A young Bayelsan Architect, Mr Wilcox Timi, has revealed how the Bayelsa State Government sold 450 graves at #150,000, #250,000 and #1,500,000 each and had all sold out for burials.
The renowned architect who carried out the construction project as the technical head of a committee which was co-headed by Dr Dagana Johnson, a former Permanent Secretary of the ministry and other directors has cried out that after selling out all the 450 graves, they have started selling the walkway and sidewalks to bury corpses and in some cases, exhume old corpses from already sold graves.
He frowned at the current Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Waripamo Martins, who offered to pay him a paltry 2million naira or stand to lose the entire outstanding 15million on the ground that there was no formal letter of engagement between him and the ministry.
Arc. Wilcox lamented that he has been in and out of police custody on the orders of the suppliers from whom he took building materials during the construction due to Mr Waripamo’s refusal to pay the outstanding balance.
He also explained that it was worrisome that the Ministry has sold all the graves in very shady ways without proper documentation, raising concerns as to whether or not the proceeds of sales were remitted to the state treasury.
In a bid to secure the payment of his N15 million naira, Arch. Wilcox, before now, through his lawyers, issued a complaint to the Bayelsa state government led by Sen. Douye Diri, to intervene.
The complaint dated 19th August, 2021, and signed by Dominica Faith Ikpaikpai, Esq.., was titled “FORMAL COMPLAINT OF THE FAILURE AND REFUSAL OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT TO COMPLETELY PAY ARCH. TIMI WILCOX HIS OUTSTANDING SUM OF FIFTEEN MILLION NAIRA (N15,000,000.00) ONLY, FOR THE DIRECT LABOUR JOB THE BAYELSA STATE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT ENGAGED HIM FOR THE FENCING, THUMBS CONSTRUCTION, LANDSCAPING,
PAINTING AND FIXING OF INTERLOCKING STONES AT THE BAYELSA STATE CEMETERY, IN LINE WITH THE REMODELING AND BEAUTIFICATION OF THE BAYELSA STATE CEMETERY AT AZIKORO TOWN.”
The letter said “As Solicitors to and on the instructions of Arch. Timi Wilcox of Foropah Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State (hereinafter referred to as “our client”), we hereby formally lodge the complaint of the failure and refusal of the ministry of environment to completely pay Arch. Timi Wilcox his outstanding sum of Fifteen Million Naira (N15,000,000.00) only, for the direct labour job the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment engaged him, for the fencing, thumbs construction, landscaping, painting and fixing of interlocking stones at the Bayelsa State Cemetery, in line with the remodeling and beautification of the Bayelsa State Cemetery at Azikoro Town.”
It further read “Our client complaint is premised on the following facts:
“1. That sometime in the year 2017, the Ministry of Environment during the tenure of Hon. Alamene as Honourable Commissioner for
Environment, Bayelsa State, engaged our client to carry out a direct labour job for the fencing, construction of thumbs, landscaping. painting and fixing of interlocking stones at the Bayelsa State cemetery. in line with the remodeling and beautification of the Bayelsa State cemetery Azikoro as at then.
“That prior to the Ministry engaging our client of the said job, the Ministry of Environment set up a 12 man implementation committee headed by the then permanent secretary by name Dr. Dagana Esq.. the head of Department, Bayelsa State Cemetery by name Steven Ere, the cashier of the Ministry of Environment by name Ifidi Okpoemi, the current accountant of the Ministry of Environment, three (3) staffers of the Ministry of Environment by name Mr. Eric, Mr. Egbe and Mr. Soro, who were all directors at the time, amongst other members of the committee,
That upon engaging our client, of the said direct labour job by the Ministry of Environment, our client swung into action and eventually completed the said jobs, but was only paid the sums of Nineteen Million, Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety Naira, Eighty-One Kobo (N19,220,590.81k) only, through bank transfer and attached to this letter are copies of our Client’s bank statement.
“It is necessary to draw your Excellency’s attention to the fact that the bank transfers made were from the account of the Ministry as well as the personal account of the cashier of the Ministry of Environment. Mr. Ifidi Okpoemi.
Later on the cash sum of Twenty-Three Million, Two Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira (N23,280,000.00K) only, was paid to our client by the cashier of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ifidi Okpoemi.
“So far, our client has been paid the accumulated sum of Forty-Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety Naira, Eighty-One Kobo (N42,500,590.81K) only, as against the agreed contract sum of Fifty-Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N57,500,000.00) only.
“The outstanding or unpaid sum is Fifteen Million Naira (N15,000,000.00) only.
“We have attached several copies of photographs as proof of completion of the direct labour job our client was engaged in by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment for the purposes of fencing, thumbs construction, landscaping, painting and fixing of interlocking stones at the Bavelsa State Cemetery, in line with the remodeling and beautification of the Bayelsa State Cemetery at Azikoro Town.
- We have also attached pictorial evidence of what the Bayelsa State Cemetery at Azikoro Town was before our client was engaged for the direct labour job.
“б. Also find attached a copy of the Ministry’s Request for the release of Sixty-Six Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira (66,300,000.00) only to the Bayelsa State Government, a sum which was meant for the Remodeling and Beautification of the Bayelsa State Cemetery at Azikoro” dated the 6 day of October, 2016.
“As a law abiding citizen, our client has done everything legally possible to ensure that the balance of Fifteen Million Naira (N15,000,000.00) only be paid to him, however, all of our combined efforts have proved abortive so far, hence the need to direct this letter to your good office.
We are of the firm believe that as the Executive Governor of our dear State (The Glary of all Lands) and the Chief law executing officer, you will do everything within your ambits to ensure that the due numerations that accord our Client shall be duly paid.
“It is on the aforesaid basis and the trust we have in your good and selfless service to the great people of Bayelsa that we have not resorted to legal proceedings before a competent court of justice.
As justice delayed is akin to justice denied, we hope that your Excellency shall act swiftly within the next fourteen (14) days to ensure that justice is served on our client.
We thank you in anticipation of your prompt and responsive response,” the letter added.
About two years after, the Prosperity government led by H.E Douye Diri, is yet to intervene, leaving the contractor to his own fate as those he took building materials on credit continues to harass him.
Kindly contact us @ Naijalivetv@gmail.com
Call or Whatsapp: 07035262029, 07016666694, 08129340000
