Choscharis supplied Kayode govt N1.28bn vehicles on oral agreement – Witness

A representative of Choscharis Motors , Mr Justin Ngele, yesterday said that the firm supplied 156 vehicles valued at N1,284,159,000 to the administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi based on oral agreement with the government.

Ngele stated this yesterday while testifying before the Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Ekiti State government to probe the administration of the former governor.

Ngele, who was led in the witness by the counsel to Choscharis Motors, Peter Jiya, said that the company executed the contract based on trust it had for the state government.

He however said that there was a letter of award by the state government on the purchase of additional 59 units of vehicles later supplied by the company.

He told the panel that out of the 235 vehicles supplied between 2013 and 2014, total of N1.449 billion had been paid, leaving the balance of N459 million debt being owed the firm.

However, another witness from the Ministry of Local Government, Mr Samuel Akinjide in his statement on oath alleged that the ministry received an invoice of N1,284,159,000.00 from the state government for the purchase of 156 Ford Range of vehicles for traditional rulers in the state, adding that the ministry was mandated to finance the purchase.

He also alleged that even before the state government gave the directive, the then Commissioner for Finance, Mr Vincent Kolawole had taken delivery of the 156 vehicles.

Akinjide further averred that “Choscharis Motors on 2nd of May, 2014 requested for payment of 235 vehicles instead of the 156 units the ministry was directed to purchase.

He said that the local governments were to settle the debt on equal basis even though they did not solicit for it.

The panel adjourned sitting till September 8 to enable Choscharis Motors come with original documents of evidences tendered, having rejected the photocopies supplied by the counsel to the firm.