The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has demanded the immediate reactivation of a missing corruption docket involving a controversial US$105,650 payment by the Electricity Generating Company (EGENCO) to a Hong Kong-based company, AGA Limited.
In a letter addressed to the Acting Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Counsel Gabriel Chembezi, CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa called for the urgent reactivation of a previously opened but now missing docket on the matter.
According to the letter, the deal in question dates back to March 24, 2023, when Electricity Generating Company (EGENCO) allegedly awarded a consultancy contract for a grid integration assessment for the Chimgonda Hydropower Plant to a Hong Kong-based firm, AGA Limited.
The contract, valued at US$105,650, is said to have been signed by former EGENCO Chief Executive Officer William Liabunya, with Gregory Gamula as a witness, while Sam Wong signed on behalf of the foreign company.
CDEDI alleges that the entire process bypassed key internal structures, including the planning and procurement departments, raising red flags about the legitimacy of the transaction.
“Both the planning and procurement departments were not involved at any point and neither did such engagement of such a consultancy or work take place. The actual drafting of the contract brings to light a shoddy work that should not be associated with a corporate in EGENCO.
“Simply put, it was hastily done by editing a contract for the supply of goods since some clauses do not make sense at all. i.e in one of the clauses it is talking of defects/liability and warranty. In another clause, it is talking of conformity of products to be supplied,” Namiwa stated.
The situation is further complicated by the payment terms, which reportedly required full payment upon invoice submission.
CDEDI investigation has found that AGA Limited issued an invoice less than two weeks after the contract was signed, and within a month, EGENCO had instructed Ecobank to transfer the full amount to the company’s account with Dah Sing Bank in Hong Kong.
CDEDI also reveals that the matter was previously reported to both the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Financial Intelligence Authority, with a case file opened.
“CDEDI’s independent investigations further show that this matter was duly reported to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and a file was opened but the docket simply disappeared into thin air.”
The matter was also reported to the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) in copy, but the documents reportedly disappeared as well,” reads the letter.
Namiwa has since challenged the ACB boss to treat the matter with urgency, arguing that the disappearance of critical documents undermines public trust and raises suspicions of possible interference.
