Senate Orders Arrest Of Julius Berger MD

The Senate has mandated its President, Godswill Akpabio, to issue a warrant of arrest to compel the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Dr. Peer Lubasch, to appear before its Committee on Works at a date to be specified by the Red Chamber.

The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration and adoption of a Point of Order moved by Minority Whip Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) during plenary.

In his motion, which was co-sponsored by Senators Asuquo Ekpeyong (APC, Cross River South) and Barinada Mpigi (PDP, Rivers South East), Ngwu informed the Senate that Julius Berger Plc had consistently refused to appear before the Senate Committee on Works to answer questions on abandoned projects and alarming contract variation from N54 billion to N195 billion.

Akpabio said the date for the arrest would be stated in the warrant.

Ngwu urged the Senate to note that on November 20, 2024, the Senate mandated its Committee on Works to investigate the state of road infrastructure across the country.

He said the Red Chamber recalled that further to the investigative hearings, Julius Berger Nigeria PIc had neglected and refused to honour the Senate’s invitations to provide details of their role in the Odukpani-Itu highway project, despite receiving substantial public funds amounting to over N18 billion.