Senator Agom Jarigbe, who represents the Cross River North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, has been accused of unlawfully benefiting from public contracts worth N637,234,736.86 allegedly awarded to a company linked to him and members of his family. The contracts were issued by several federal government institutions and implemented within the senatorial district he represents.
The company at the centre of the controversy is Janjari Company Limited. Records show that the firm received multiple multi-million-naira contracts funded with public money for projects located across Cross River North. The development has raised serious concerns about conflict of interest and alleged violations of Nigeria’s procurement and public service regulations.
Under Nigerian law, serving public officers are prohibited from directly or indirectly influencing the award of government contracts for personal gain. The allegations surrounding Senator Jarigbe have therefore triggered questions about transparency, accountability, and abuse of office in the management of constituency-related projects.
One of the earliest payments linked to Janjari Company Limited was made on May 16, 2023. The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals released N73,837,511.44 to the company. The funds were reportedly for the supply of 130 motorcycles to Obudu Local Government Area in Cross River State.
Just ten days later, on May 26, 2023, the same government office paid Janjari Company Limited another N21,223,791.02. This payment was for the supply of 41 desktop computers along with tables, chairs, printers, and Uninterruptible Power Supply units. The items were delivered to the Cross River North Senatorial District.
In April 2024, Janjari Company Limited received a much larger payment from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. On April 8, 2024, the ministry paid N170,223,434.40 to the company for the emergency supply of rice to the Cross River North Senatorial District. The intervention was meant to address food shortages and support vulnerable residents.
Further scrutiny shows that the largest portion of the contracts came from the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River. On September 2, 2024, the institution approved a payment of N346,000,000.00 to Janjari Company Limited. The contract covered the construction of solar street lights in several communities across Cross River North, including Nkum Ekajuk.
On the same day, the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, made an additional payment of N25,950,000.00 to the company. This contract was for the provision and supply of solar-powered street lights in selected communities in Obudu Local Government Area. Janjari Company Limited reportedly executed both projects.
Altogether, the contracts awarded to Janjari Company Limited across the different federal agencies amount to N637,234,736.86. All the projects were implemented within the district represented by Senator Jarigbe, a fact that has intensified public suspicion over his possible involvement in influencing the contract awards.
The scandal has drawn attention to the recurring issue of lawmakers allegedly using proxy companies to access public funds under the guise of constituency projects and federal interventions. Anti-corruption advocates argue that such practices undermine public trust and divert resources meant for development.
Critics have also questioned the oversight mechanisms within the ministries and agencies that approved the contracts. They argue that proper due diligence should have identified any links between the senator and the beneficiary company before approvals were granted.
As of the time of reporting, Senator Agom Jarigbe has not publicly responded to the allegations. There has also been no official statement from Janjari Company Limited addressing claims that it is affiliated with the senator or his family.
The allegations have sparked calls for investigations by relevant anti-corruption and regulatory agencies to determine whether procurement laws and the Code of Conduct for Public Officers were breached. Observers say the outcome of any investigation will be critical in reinforcing accountability among elected officials.
The case adds to growing public concern over how public funds are managed and highlights the persistent challenges facing Nigeria’s fight against corruption, particularly within the political class.
