Why G-Complex’s N15bn assembly plant, trade hub at Keffi stalled

The lack of adequate legal safeguards to protect genuine businesses and punish bad businesses is currently costing a private enterprise, G-Complex Nigeria Limited, billions of naira in investments. G-Complex Limited and affiliated companies, an investment hub worth over N15bn is located in Gunduma, Km 12 Keffi-Jos Road, Keffi, Nasarawa State. The complex, when fully completed, […]

The lack of adequate legal safeguards to protect genuine businesses and punish bad businesses is currently costing a private enterprise, G-Complex Nigeria Limited, billions of naira in investments.

G-Complex Limited and affiliated companies, an investment hub worth over N15bn is located in Gunduma, Km 12 Keffi-Jos Road, Keffi, Nasarawa State. The complex, when fully completed, will play host to a private university, a 160 bed international hospital, a modern bakery, international primary school, a truck assembling plant, restaurant, super market, banking facilities, a mega fuel station, expatriates/local staff quarters and an estate among others.

The complex has been under construction since 2009 and was supposed to be commissioned in 2019 but that has been thwarted following EFCC’s sealing up of the facility.

The Managing Director/CEO of G-Comlex, Alhaji Abdulhamid Mahmud Zari, has been under EFCC investigation since March 2017 when his company was also sealed by the anti-corruption agency.

Alhaji Zari has described his investigation and the EFCC onslaught on his businesses as “illegal” and allegedly an attempt by a certain EFCC operative and the sectional head of pursuing a personal vendetta against him.

Conducting journalists round his almost abandoned facility in Gunduma, Alhaji Zari said it was unfortunate that the EFCC would allow its operative cripple a multi-billion naira investment where hundreds of youths would gain employed and government benefits millions of naira in taxes when completed.

He also said that following the EFCC’s raid on his facility and alleged harassment of his business partners, his businesses have suffered in excess N20bn since March 2017.

Mr. Zari also petitioned the Minister of Justice/Attorney General of the Federation, on June 1, 2018, titled ‘Complaint Against Abubakar Aliyu Madaki  for illegal  extortion of money, use of office as personal assistant to the acting chairman of the EFCC and the Head of Economic Governance Section, of the EFCC, to  pervert and truncate the course of justice; the need for urgent intervention’.

The petition signed by Chief Mike A.A. Ozekhome, SAN, the Chief Counsel/Head of Chambers, Mike Ozekhome Chambers, said Mr. Madaki led EFCC operatives to raid Mr. Zari’s home and business premises without a search warrant or court order.

Zari said the EFCC has not established any wrong doing against him and his businesses and called on the agency to release his documents and monies in their custody.

But the EFCC has reacted to Alhaji Zari’s claim saying accusing its operatives was baseless, adding that Abubakar Madaki is a fine officer with integrity.  

In a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC said Madaki was innocent.

“The commission wishes to state that there is no truth to this allegation, which is contrived to malign and impugn the reputation of Madaki, an operative who has handled several high profile investigations without blemish,” the statement said.

The statement described Zari’s claims as a “mischievous story”, adding that Zari had been cross with Madaki over suspicion that Madaki instigated the investigation leading to his arrest and detention by the commission.