As the Nightwatch investigations and disclosures of the acrid combined move by the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) and the Executive-Director of the Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority (SLRSA) continues, information has reached us that Michaela Bio, a daughter of President Julius Maada Bio is the main pusher and shaker behind the killing of the local Contractor at the said SLRSA.
She is said to be having a stranglehold influence on the Executive Director at the SLRSA through some unexplained corrupt vice to rudely terminate the contract to procure and print driver’s license awarded to a local contractor through the unequivocal approval of the NPPA since 2021. The said contract was for an initial period of one, which upon the satisfactory performance of the said local contractor was extended for another five years (2028), again approved by the NPPA.
It has been reliably disclosed to Nightwatch that Michaela Bio, is the actual person behind the unconditional planned termination of this worthily executed contract by the now victimized local company, using the Africa Arab Investment (AAI) foreign company as cover. Nightwatch is also reliably informed that Michaela Bio hasn’t the technical and financial muscle to undertake such a grandiose business undertaking, and has instead surreptitiously gone all the way to secure the backup service of the Egyptian AAI company as smokescreen to root out her compatriots, for an undisclosed enumeration. It is not clear to the Nightwatch the quantum of monetary gains Michaela Bio will gain when the contract is re-awarded to AAI, but indications are that it could run into millions of United States Dollars as a one-off cash reward, or she may have a shareholding status with the Africa Arab Investment Company.
What is baffling in this whole messy dealing is the fact the Africa Arab Investment Company, according to reliable source, has already installed its server in the office of the Executive Director at the SLRSA and are reportedly duplicating the driver’s license card produced by the now victimized local contractor. This un-called for action is being done, in gross disregard of the Procurement Act that stipulates that all procurements should go through a fair and transparent bidding process before it is awarded, and to ensure transparency and equity in the process, the bidders must not be openly known to the Bidding Committee of the procuring entity. In this case however, Michaela Bio has already introduced the Africa Arab Investment company to the bidding committee of the SLRSA and it is this undue influence and manipulation that is now militating against the now victimized local company.
It could be recalled that the local company, after haven performed the initial contract to procure and print the driver’s license for the SLRSA following a competitive bidding process, was approved to go ahead with the procurement and printing contract onto 2028, and as such, had procured a substantial quantity of the cards for the continuity of the contract. As at present, the cards procured and printed by the local contractor are being issued out to drivers around the country. The holders of these cards have told Nightwatch that the quality is perfect and the printing is of high quality. Further information reaching Nightwatch is indicating that the SLRSA has exhausted the supply of the local contractor, but that instead of allowing same to continue with the procurement in furtherance of its legally awarded contract, it is the Africa Arab Investment company shepherded by Michaela Bio that is now duplicating the driver’s license under the authority and acquiescence of the Executive Director, while the NPPA remains tight-lipped over the matter.
It is not known whether what the Africa Arab Investment company is doing is a criminal continuation of the contract already awarded in the name of the local contractor being victimized, but the fact remains that, there has been no new bidding for the procurement and printing of the SLRSA driver’s license in tandem with the dictates of the National Public Procurement Act 2016.
According to the former Chief Executive at the National Public Procurement Authority, Ibrahim Brima Swarray, “procurement is the overall process of acquiring goods, works and services including all functions from the identification of needs, selection and solicitation of sources, preparation and award of contract, and all phases of the contract administration or the useful of an asset,” This in essence, encapsulates the fairness and transparent nature of what is expected in the process of awarding public contracts. But in this case concerning the SLRSA driver’s license contract, this postulation by the Mr. Swarray appears far-fetched and improperly done regarding the Africa Arab Investment with the devil influence of Michaela Bio on the Executive Director of the SLRSA.
Nightwatch Newspaper will continue its investigation and revelations.