Buhari Confronted Julius Berger Over Contract Inflation for Kickbacks – Garba Shehu's Book Reveals

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Former President Muhammadu Buhari once directly confronted construction giant Julius Berger Nigeria Plc over the alleged practice of inflating government contracts to accommodate kickbacks for officials, according to revelations in a new book by his former spokesman, Garba Shehu.

In “According to the President,” Shehu recounts a dramatic November 6, 2015 meeting where Buhari shocked Julius Berger executives by detailing how their contracts allegedly included 10% or more in padded costs meant as bribes for government officials.

The book describes how Buhari told the delegation led by Mutiu Sunmonu, former Shell Nigeria chairman: “We have been informed that percentage cuts – 10 percent or more – are built into your contracts, to be shared among government leaders and civil servants. This must stop. We will not accept kickbacks.”

Buhari reportedly went further, alleging that the company provided additional unofficial benefits including:

– Construction of private homes for officials

– Supply and maintenance of luxury vehicles

– Overseas medical treatments, including air ambulance services

“Our finding is that nothing you give is free,” Buhari was quoted as saying. “All such costs are built into government contracts. We don’t want that to continue.”

While acknowledging Julius Berger’s quality work on projects like Abuja’s infrastructure and Aso Rock Villa, Buhari issued a stern warning:

“From now going forward, the added costs and all this padding must end. If we ask for quotations from you, tell us the actual cost that the project entails. No 10 percent, no added costs.”

Shehu’s account describes an “eerie silence” following the president’s remarks, with no objections from the Julius Berger delegation. The construction firm has not publicly responded to these allegations from the 2015 meeting.

The revelation comes from pages 121-122 of Shehu’s book, providing rare insight into Buhari’s early anti-corruption efforts, though critics note such practices reportedly persisted throughout his administration.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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