APC Chieftain, Iheanacho Samuel Okereocha Secures Lucrative Federal Contract Through Inactive Company In Obvious Contracts Racketeering 

Secrets Reporters

SecretsReporters has uncovered a clear case of alleged cronyism and political compensation in the award of public contracts, as a known All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Iheanacho Samuel Okereocha, benefits from a multi-million naira federal project despite operating through a company listed as inactive.

Okereocha, who previously served as a member of the APC’s Convention Legacy and Rapporteurs Sub-Committee during the party’s 2022 National Convention planning under the Caretaker Committee led by Mai Mala Buni, continues to wield influence within the ruling party’s structures. His repeated involvement in sensitive convention committees highlights his status as a trusted party insider.

On March 31, 2026, Smile Projects International Resources Limited, where Okereocha serves as a director, was awarded a contract worth ₦134,246,819.10 for the construction, equipping, and furnishing of an ICT Centre at the Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin-Kowa, in Gombe State. The project was reportedly linked to needs in the Borno Central Senatorial District.

The Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin-Kowa, operates under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. In the proposed 2026 national budget, the college attracted extraordinary scrutiny after it was allocated a staggering ₦133 billion for capital projects, an amount far exceeding allocations to many established federal universities and nearly 50 times its recurrent expenditure. This unusually high funding has sparked widespread questions about the drivers behind project awards at the institution.

Corporate records from the Corporate Affairs Commission show that Smile Projects International Resources Limited was incorporated in October 2012 with a modest paid-up share capital of just ₦100,000. The company remains listed as inactive, with its primary activity classified as general merchants and traders rather than specialised construction or ICT infrastructure development. Its registered address is in Gwagwalada, Abuja, and other directors include Iheanacho Ewere Hilda and Ibraheem Marwan Maaji.

Observers argue that awarding such a significant contract to a thinly capitalised and inactive company defies standard procurement principles of competence, financial capacity, and competitive bidding. Instead, the decision points strongly to political compensation for vested interests and party loyalty rather than merit or due process. In Nigeria’s patronage-driven political environment, such awards often serve as rewards for individuals who deliver political value, including mobilisation and loyalty during critical party processes like national conventions.

Okereocha’s business portfolio extends beyond this single entity. He is linked to other companies, including Hanson Capital Development Ltd, Narida Associates Limited, and The Crying Child Foundation. This multiplicity of corporate vehicles is a common tactic used by politically exposed persons to facilitate access to public contracts while spreading risk and potentially enabling the diversion of funds.

The Federal College of Horticulture has faced prior scrutiny for awarding large sums for projects that appear unrelated to its core mandate of horticultural training and research. This latest revelation adds to a pattern of concern regarding how institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture deploy public funds, especially when beneficiaries have deep ties to the ruling party.