N’assembly asked to probe ‘N80bn fraud’ in NDDC

A group known as the Act for Positive Transformation Initiative (ACT) has asked the national assembly to probe an alleged fraud of N80 billion in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The senate is currently probing the interim management committee (IMC) of the NDDC for allegedly mismanaging N40 billion.

There have been allegations and counter-allegations following the decision of the upper legislative chamber to probe the commission.

While Peter Nwaoboshi, chairman of the senate committee on NDDC, has accused Godswill Akpabio, minister of Niger Delta affairs, of getting a N300 million fencing contract, the commission said the senator got a N3.6 billion contract using 11 companies as fronts.

In a petition dated June 29 and addressed to Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, Kolawole Johnson, ACT’s head of research, said the lawmakers should not release funds to the commission because they are “grossly abused”.

“That the national assembly directs the commission to stop all forms of procurements,” Johnson said.

“That the national assembly directs the commission and relevant agencies to stop all forms of payments from the commission’s account.

“That a proper account must be given for the over N80 billion squandered by the commission between January and May, 2020.

“That the commission should be allowed to pay salaries only. That the national assembly directs the commission to stop payments of all forms of allowances as this has been grossly abused.

“That the national assembly strives to save the commission from the monster of corruption through the ongoing probe.

“Among numerous agitations, our office is, in recent times, inundated with cries from students abroad under the commission’s scholarship who are currently stranded in different countries.”