In a significant development in the CEPEP court case, CEO Keith Eddy has alleged that former Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi pressured him to approve $1.4 billion worth of contract renewals without necessary Cabinet oversight, just days ahead of the April 28 elections. Eddy’s affidavit claims that this mass renewal of 336 contracts is unprecedented in his nine years with CEPEP and lacked the required government scrutiny.
Eddy’s assertions contradict former CEPEP Chairman Joel Edwards, who claimed that Cabinet approval for the extensions was either unnecessary or obtained. Eddy insists that such significant financial decisions demand government knowledge due to their implications on the national budget.
He describes experiencing “intense pressure” from Al-Rawi to approve new contractors without appropriate documentation or funding, detailing multiple aggressive communications from the minister. Eddy has shared WhatsApp messages indicating a lack of truthfulness from Al-Rawi regarding approvals.
The situation escalated when Eddy claimed that Edwards misrepresented Cabinet approval, which led to a board note being circulated under false pretenses. Eddy intends to escalate the matter to law enforcement authorities, emphasizing that he has nothing to hide. The allegations surface amidst a lawsuit from Eastman Enterprises Limited against CEPEP, challenging the termination of numerous contracts by the current administration, with CEPEP seeking to dismiss the case.
