EXCLUSIVE: Ebonyi Governor Francis Nwifuru Gave N3Billion State Contracts To Brother’s Two Firms, Registered Within 10 Days

SaharaReporters’ investigation has uncovered how Simeon Nwifuru, brother of Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, registered two companies within 10 days in February 2024 and subsequently secured contracts worth a total of ₦3 billion from the Ebonyi State Government.

Corporate records show that one of the firms, Celeco Plaza Limited, was incorporated on February 18, 2024, while the other, Best Celeco Construction Company, was registered earlier on February 8, 2024.

A review of the documents indicates that Simeon Nwifuru is listed as the owner of both companies.

Both companies also have the same office address: "No. 1, Achi Street, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State."

Investigations reveal that both companies, owned by Simeon Nwifuru, were used to submit bids for similar projects at the ICT University, Oferekpe, which appears to be a case of contract splitting.

A contract for the construction of a three-storey student hostel at the ICT University, Oferepke, Ebonyi State, was awarded to Celeco Plaza to the tune of N1.542 billion under the code "ocds-zinqhl-085317-EB/MTE/EP029-NG."

The contract was awarded in March 2025; however, the tender release date for the contract was listed as August 29, 2024 — six months after the registration of Celeco Plaza with the Corporate Affairs Commission by Simeon Nwifuru.

Another contract worth N1.287 billion, also for the construction of a three-storey student hostel at the ICT University, Oferepke, Ebonyi State, was awarded to Best Celeco Construction Company, a company also owned by Simeon Nwifuru, under the code "ocds-zinqhl-085305-EB/MTE/EP029-NG."

The contract was awarded on March 12, 2025, yet the tender was released on August 29, 2024, just six months after Best Celeco Construction was registered with the CAC.

Another contract for the construction of a 12-classroom storey building at Girls High School, Azuiyiokwu, Abakaliki, worth N172 million, was awarded to Best Celeco Construction on October 7, 2024, under code "ocds-zinqhl-045168-EB/MPE/EP007-NG."

The contract was awarded barely eight months after the organisation registered with the CAC.

Interestingly, the tender for this project was released on February 21, 2024, 13 days after Best Celeco registered with the CAC.

In total, contracts worth N3.001 billion were awarded to Celeco and Best Celeco, both owned by Simeon Nwifuru, between February 2024 and March 2025.

It is unclear how the organisation managed to meet the technical experience requirements needed to win contracts worth N3 billion. It is also unclear why Simeon Nwifuru used two companies to win similar contracts in the same institution, ICT University, Oferepke, in what appears to be a classic case of contract splitting.

Contracts To Governor Nwifuru’s Brother-In-Law

Previously, SaharaReporters reported that on April 28, 2023, barely one month before the inauguration of a new governor in Ebonyi State, the state government awarded contracts to a newly registered company owned by Nwode Chidi Henry, the brother of the first lady of the state, Mary-Maudline Nwifuru.

The company, registered under the name "HC Carter Ventures Ltd," was incorporated on April 25, 2023.

Between July 2024 (barely one year after its registration) and May 2025 (barely two years after its registration), it was awarded three contracts worth over N3 billion for different projects in Ebonyi State.

On July 25, 2024, a contract worth N400 million was awarded to the company for the construction of two kilometres (2KM) of the Ngamgbo Elom Note to Onu UIO Akpu Junction Road in the Mkpoke community of Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

On October 7, 2024, a contract worth N172 million for the construction of a 12-classroom storey building at Community Secondary School, Ojiegbe Nkaliki, was awarded to HC Carter Ventures.

Further review shows that on May 6, 2025, a contract worth N2.541 billion was awarded to the organisation for the construction of a concrete rigid pavement (5,000.00m), Phase 2, from TTC–Iboko Road in Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State.

The three contracts awarded to HC Carter Ventures within two years of its registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) were worth N3.113 billion.

SaharaReporters subjected the company to a CAC database check. According to the beneficial ownership data register of the commission, the person with significant control on the board was listed as Nwode Chidi Henry. His address was listed as within the government quarters in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Further investigation by SaharaReporters through network analysis shows that Mr. Nwode, who owns the company awarded over N3 billion in contracts within barely two years of registration, is the younger brother of the First Lady of Ebonyi State, Mary-Maudline Nwifuru.

On February 11, 2025, SaharaReporters checks show that different persons congratulated Simeon for his appointment as a member of the Land Use Allocation Committee, which suggests that he is working for the government.