There
appears to be more revelations with respect to the ongoing probe as names of
Nigerians who allegedly got Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) contracts
have emerged.
The
list is reportedly different from
the one sent to the House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, by the
Minister for Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio.
The
new names published by SaharaReporters include a judge, former governors, All
Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts, government officials, Police, Army
officers, EFCC officials and monarchs.
The
fresh list contains project descriptions, local government areas, proposed
contractors, contact details (including phone numbers), project sources and
dates of award.
The
alleged beneficiaries are TC/COP Villa/MD, who got several contracts for
undisclosed amounts; AIG Operations, Abuja, got contracts worth
N186,771,348.75, while DIG/Ochei got contract worth N349,976,919.86; CSO/CNC
got contract worth N150,342,858.75.
Others
are Godwin Udoidiong for undisclosed amount; George Moghalu National
Auditor/EDP also got contracts worth N198,397,145.63; EDP/Giadom contract worth
N663,155,999.63; while Justice Nnamdi Dimgha of the FHC got contract worth
N249,555,206.25.
Dozens
of House members would soon appear before the Committee on Ethics and
Privileges probing their purported involvement in the N100bn projects awarded
by the NDDC in 2018.
Gbajabiamila
directed the committee to commence probe of those Akpabio indicted.
Meanwhile,
Akpabio’s rejoinder was contained in letter to the Clerk of the House with ref
no. MNDA/HM/04/IV/158.
He
said the investigating Committee on NDDC refused to give him the opportunity to
explain that reference to most NDDC contracts yearly being awarded since 2001
from the records allegedly to members of the National Assembly in both Chambers
were done without the knowledge of the alleged beneficiaries.
“The
two Chairmen of the Committees in both Chambers had adequate knowledge. The
2019 budget passed in February and harmonized between the 4th and 5th of March
2020 was received by the Commission in the middle of April, 2020, when same was
designated to expire on the 31st of May, 2020.”
He
stated that the Clerk of the National Assembly forwarded a letter Ref.
NASS/CNA/115/VOL.38/1175, dated 20th March 2020, without attaching the budget
details indicating that the 2020 budget of the NDDC passed into Law was being
forwarded (copy of the letter is attached as Annexure ‘A’).”
Akpabio
recalled that the anomaly was brought to the attention of the Senate Ad Hoc
Committee investigating a purported financial recklessness by the management of
the commission in July 2020.
“It
has always been known that the two chairmen of the committees on NDDC in both
chambers yearly exhibit unusual influence to the exclusion of committee members
and even the management of the NDDC in appropriating funds to details
embellished in the budget after passage of line items at the plenaries.”
Akpabio
attached documents showing nature of contracts, amounts (in some cases), dates,
and beneficiaries, including the ones awarded to the NDDC committees chairmen
in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
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