EXCLUSIVE: Kickback Scandal Rocks Delta SUBEB As Contractors Accuse Top Officials Of Demanding Cash For Cheques, Completion Certificates

A kickback and extortion scandal is currently rocking the Delta State Universal Basic and Education Board (SUBEB), SaharaReporters has learned.

Sources say the alleged scheme is being coordinated by two senior staff members in the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS), reportedly with the approval of the board’s chairman, Samuel Mariere.

SaharaReporters gathered that contractors executing SUBEB projects in Delta State are being forced to pay between N100,000 and N500,000 to have their cheques signed or to receive certificates of project completion.

The funds are allegedly paid into United Bank for Africa (UBA) accounts belonging to Sylvester Etetafia, a staff member in the DPRS, and Antonia Krenyo, also in the DPRS and personal secretary to the board’s chairman. Sources say the payments are collected on behalf of the chairman.

Speaking in confidence, a contractor working on SUBEB projects told SaharaReporters that the alleged kickbacks and extortion have been ongoing since the appointment of the current board chairman. According to the contractor, anyone who refuses to comply is denied their cheque or the endorsement of their project completion certificate.

"Delta State contractors executing SUBEB contracts are dying in silence. We borrow money from banks to execute jobs, and after that, some people will stand their ground that if we don't pay kickbacks, our cheques will not be released, while our certificate of job completion will not see the light of day.

"The board's chairman, Samuel Mariere is fully aware of the whole thing. The exploitation by these principal staffers of the board is killing us.”

Another contractor who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity over fear of being blacklisted, alleged that the kickbacks are either paid before a job is awarded or upfront, depending on the bargaining power of a contractor.

“These kickbacks and extortion usually start from when we begin to seek jobs till the certificate of completion is awarded,” the contractor said.

“The initial kickback or extortion is N100,000, which is paid to get your cheque. After that, you will pay another amount for a certificate of job completion, which will depend on the worth of the contract. The least payment is N200,000. The higher your contract is worth, the higher the amount you pay for the certificate of job completion.”

“For instance, jobs of N100 million will attract about N200,000 in kickback, while jobs of N150 million will attract N300,000, and so on like that,” the contractor added.

The contractor continued, "I can tell that the kickbacks are affecting job executions, thereby depriving us contractors from carrying out the jobs effectively and to specifications.

“Why we are crying out is that the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has been monitoring every job to make sure they are done to specification. The area of concern is that he pays according to the work done.

"The Board Chairman, Hon. Samuel Mariere, is very much aware of what is going on because his personal secretary is deeply involved in collecting money from contractors without any atom of fear.

“We contractors are using this medium to call on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to set up a probe panel, and while that is being done, the board chairman and the staff members involved should be placed on suspension pending the outcome of the investigation."

When contacted at press time, Sylvester Etetafia, a staff member in the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS), denied the allegation.

Similarly, Antonia Krenyo, who also works in the DPRS and serves as the personal secretary to the board’s chairman, responded: “How is that my concern? I don’t understand. Please go and meet who is concerned,” before abruptly ending the call.

When contacted, the Chairman of the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Samuel Mariere, declined to comment over the phone.

“Come to the office and see me; I don’t discuss with people on the phone. I am in the office. If you are a journalist and there is something, come to the office and see me. I don’t discuss with people on the phone,” Mariere said.