By Chimezie Ezeji
Questions about corporate accountability and professional engagements have emerged following a dispute between Fidelity Bank Plc and environmental engineering company, GON-SETEC Nigeria Limited.
The disagreement arose from efforts to address regulatory compliance issues involving wastewater management facilities at Fidelity Bank’s Lagos headquarters.
Documents show that Fidelity Bank sought GON-SETEC’s intervention after receiving a regulatory notice from the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office.
The engineering firm was reportedly tasked with reviewing the notice, engaging regulators and advising on compliance requirements.
According to documents made available by GON-SETEC, the company claims it subsequently secured additional time for the bank to address the matter and undertook substantial technical and regulatory work in line with the mandate it says was given to it by the bank.
However, after months of engagement, GON-SETEC alleges that it was sidelined and denied the opportunity to execute the project to completion. Through its solicitors, the company is demanding N150 million from Fidelity Bank.
Observers in the engineering industry say the case raises broader issues concerning the rights of consultants and contractors who expend resources on urgent assignments before project implementation decisions are made.
Engr. Emeka James told our reporter that the attitude of some large corporations towards smaller companies in contractual engagements was concerning.
> “It is baffling that some big corporations treat smaller companies as if there are no laws governing contractual engagements,” he said.
Engr. Okoro Ohaegbulem also spoke to our reporter in Owerri, expressing concern that the dispute could have wider implications.
He said:
> “The outcome of the dispute could have implications for future relationships between large corporations and specialized technical consultants in Nigeria.”
In the words of Okenze George Nkwoji, the Managing Director of GON-SETEC:
> “We will not allow Fidelity Bank to get away with this corporate rascality and lawlessness. Other organizations which benefited from our professional competence usually give us letters of commendation and further patronage. Therefore, if the bank fails to respond to our demand, we will help it to stop that project.”
Efforts to obtain Fidelity Bank’s response to the allegations were unsuccessful. The bank’s response was not available at the time of filing this report.
