Senate panel summons NDDC management over N6bn COVID palliatives

The senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions has summoned the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over the alleged mismanagement of N6.25 billion earmarked for the purchase of COVID-19 relief items.

The panel summoned the management of the NDDC following a petition by Sobomabo Jackrich, chairman of the NDDC committee for the distribution of relief items.

President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the sum for relief items to be bought for the oil-producing states in an effort to cushion the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the economy.

The NDDC management is expected to appear before the committee on February 22.

In the petition, Jackrich said the immediate past interim management committee (IMC) led by Kemebradikumo Pondei, acting managing director of the NDDC, mismanaged the funds as there was nothing to show that relief items were bought.

The chairman said spoilt food was procured for a few communities.

“I testify that N6.25bn approved by Mr President for palliatives for the entire Niger Delta Region through the NDDC cannot be accounted for and is allegedly embezzled by the then Prof. Daniel Pondei-led IMC,” he said.

“My committee was totally sidelined and the IMC hijacked the process because of their secret plots just because I, as the Chairman, demanded for transparency in the entire process.

“The then IMC conspired among themselves and distributed strange substances in the name of palliatives in the form of spoiled food items to a few communities in the region.

“To cover up for the fraud, they tried without success to bribe me with a few bags of rice and beans.”

In July, the senate indicted the Pondei-led IMC and asked the management to refund N4.9 billion which it said was spent on COVID-19 relief items.