The Senate on Thursday authorized the arrest of Dr. Peer Lubasch, Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, due to his repeated failure to appear before the Senate Committee on Works.
This decision followed a motion presented by Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West), and co-sponsored by Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South) and Mpigi Barinada (PDP, Rivers South-East).
Senator Ngwu highlighted that Julius Berger has consistently ignored invitations to account for the abandonment of projects and a significant rise in contract costs, escalating from N54 billion to N195 billion. He specifically pointed to the Odukpani-Itu Highway project, noting that the company had received over N18 billion in public funds without fulfilling its obligations.
He also raised concerns about discrepancies in contractor performance, emphasizing Julius Berger’s failure to meet project targets. Ngwu invoked the Senate’s constitutional authority under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows for investigations into the management of public funds, and pointed out that the Senate has the power to issue arrest warrants for non-compliance.
He referred to the alleged termination of Julius Berger’s contract for the highway project due to demobilization and refusal to accept contract review terms, despite the initial contract value and subsequent requests for increases.
Senator Ngwu urged the Senate to use its powers to compel the attendance of the Managing Director at a rescheduled investigative hearing. Senate President Godswill Akpabio confirmed that the specific date for the MD’s appearance would be included in the arrest warrant.
The motion led to a debate among senators about the most effective way to address Julius Berger’s non-compliance. Senators Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), and Joel Onowakpo Thomas (APC, Delta) supported the immediate issuance of the arrest warrant, while Senators Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North), and Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe North) recommended resolving the issue at the committee level to prevent unnecessary escalation.
Despite differing opinions, the Senate ultimately resolved to issue the arrest warrant, affirming its commitment to accountability and transparency in handling public funds.
