The SABAU Education Project Director at the Ministry of Education, Yvonne Gibril yesterday accused the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone (MCSL) and its Contractors of embezzling about 223 Million Leones which resulted to the termination of their contract agreement with the Education Ministry.
This revelation was made at the ongoing Commission of Enquiry in Freetown, as the Director tendered documents to the Commission, in support of some of the contract agreements signed between the Ministry of Education and Service Providers who implemented SABABU projects across the Country.
She told the Commission that Service Providers signed contract agreements with the Ministry of Education after valid advance payment and performance Bank guarantee had been signed; but some of them failed to submit instrumental documents to the Ministry to serve as guarantee on the exact amount of the contract.
She also disclosed that “the project would recover some monies by the liability of the contract agreement and Service Providers who fail to meet the terms and conditions of the contract agreement.
She then revealed that, the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone signed a contract agreement with the Education Ministry and the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank for a project in Kailahun; but that the Church failed to pay to the account of the Guarantee Trust Bank on time, leading to the termination of the contract.
She stressed that some Contractors submitted fake guarantors with different bank accounts; citing MCSL of failing to post performance contract as indicated in some of the documents tendered to the Commission.
Valicious Thomas cross-examined the Director of SABABU project and informed the Commission that, Service Providers who defaulted in the implementation of the project should be held responsible for the non performance of Contractors, as net outstanding liability to the Kailahun project is Le 166,912,293.44
Plan Sierra Leone was also one of the Service Providers in Kono and Kailahun who defaulted; but the National Insurance Company, being the performance Bond Guarantor accepted to pay the performance guarantee on liability and later hired the services of a Lawyer.
World Vision Sierra Leone was the only Service Provider who performed well in the implementation of SABABU Projects in Kono; though some of the Contractors defaulted, World Vision paid the money and the projects were completed.
The Commission continues their investigations on the misappropriation of donor and Government funds.
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