Reps To Probe Alleged Infractions In NDDC, NBET

The House of Representatives on Tuesday vowed to investigate alleged infractions contained in a six-year audit report on the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc.

The report on the NDDC was from 2013 to 2018 while that on the NBET was from 2017 to 2019. Both were submitted by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Accounts.

The chairman of the committee, Wole Oke, told reporters in Abuja that the committee would give the reports accelerated deliberations when the House resumes from its annual recess in September.

In the queries, the NDDC is to, among other things, explain the alleged payment of N459.350m as medical check-up expenses to part-time board members, payment of N1.358bn as imprest to executive board members, engagement and payment of N1.58bn to external solicitors without the consent of the Attorney-General of the Federation, award of N3.001bn emergency contracts, payment of N698.1m to some retired generals for regional security surveillance on projects.

Other alleged infractions in the report included payment of N2.5bn for the supply of 3,852 doses of Hepatitis B vaccines and 1570 doses of Typhoid vaccines and supply of Lassa fever kits to NDDC warehouse in Port Harcourt and distribution, transportation and storage was queried by the Auditor General.

Similarly, the committee received from the Auditor-General, the report querying the NBET on non-submission of annual audited financial statements for six years 2014 to 2019.

NDDC: Pondei lists contracts paid under ‘duress’ to get National Assembly budget approval

The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, has listed some of the contracts the commission was coerced to pay by the National Assembly before its 2019 annual budget could be harmonized.

He said in a statement on Saturday in Abuja that some lawmakers, especially members of adhoc Committees held the commission hostage over the years with the annual budget approval.

Pondei, in the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Edgar Ebigoni, listed the contracts and benefiting firms to include; Kith Global Ventures Ltd; Remedial Works at New Ogorode Roads Lot 3, at the cost of N493,684,169.00 and paid on the 17/03/2020; 301 Constr. Ltd; Remedial Works at Nja Road to Akoku Uno Lot 1, at the cost of N350,027,919.80 and paid on the 17/03/2020.

Other are; Cracked Stone Constr. Ltd; Remedial Works at Ajaolubeti Road Environs Lot 2 at the cost of N394,010,952.10 and paid on the 17/03/2020; Collincrystal Energy Ltd; Emergency at Benin Township Road Lot 7, at the cost of N 431,053.035.20 and paid on the 17/03/2020; Collincrystal Energy Ltd; Emergency at Benin Township Road Lot 3, at the cost of N361,357,276.20 and paid on the 17/03/2020 and Grapik Ltd; Emergency at Umudee Internal Road, at the cost of N207,673,107.70 and paid on the 17/03/2020 among others.

He said: “This blackmail scheme explains why the 2019 Budget of the NDDC was passed by the National Assembly Committee in March, 2020.

“We are talking about a budget that was billed to expire in May, 2020.

“This implication is that the management of the NDDC had only five weeks, to implement the budget of one fiscal year, and present a performance report on the same budget.

“This scheme has continued to play out, because as at this Month of August 2020, the budget of the NDDC for the 2020 fiscal year has not been passed by the Joint National Assembly Committee on NDDC.

“Sadly, nobody seems to care to ask questions because people are falling for the well-scripted smokescreen playing out in the two chambers of the National Assembly.”

He added that the document was among the others tendered before the NASS Committee, which never saw the light of the day, and which the NDDC Committee were never allowed to speak on, when they eventually appeared before the committee, during the public hearing.

“It was based on this evidential claim that the IMC of NDDC staged a walk-out, on the first day they were to testify before the committee.

“The details of this list can be verified from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), through a Freedom Of Information (FOI) request.

“Indeed, the same allegation informed the reason all well-meaning Nigerians urged the committee chairman, Hon. Tunji-Ojo, to recuse himself from the chairmanship of that hearing.

“This is in keeping with the Nemo judex in causa sua, which is a Latin phrase that upholds the principle of natural justice that no one can judge a case in which they have an interest,” Pondei said.

He said it was unfortunate that, against all objective appeals and moral persuasions, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, alongside some other accused members of the House Committee on NDDC, proceeded to hold a public hearing, which was initially slated for two days, being the 15th and 16th of July 2020, but which effectively ran till 20th of the month, “only for him to decide, at his own pace and time, to recuse himself from the hearing, on the last day, an action which cast a dark shade on the entire public.”

“The spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, on a National Television Programme recently, admitted publicly that contractors often approached Chairmen of the House Committees and the members to use their office to compel MDAs to pay them.

“This definitely should be the new height of the abuse of the oath of office they swore, not to allow their personal interest interfere with the discharge of their official duties.

“Recall that since these allegations were first made by the Acting Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh on National Television, Hon. Olubumni Tunji-Ojo has not deemed it fit to discountenance the allegations by way of a law suit,” he added.

House of Representatives probes Nunieh’s house invasion

The House, also on Thursday, resolved to investigate the invasion and the siege laid to the home of the former acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Joi Nunieh, by men of the Nigeria Police.

At the plenary, the Deputy Chief Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; and Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu, jointly moved a motion titled: ‘Need to Investigate the Remote Causes of Police Invasion of the Former Acting Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Joi Nunieh’s Residence on Friday, 16 June, 2020’.

‘Appoint amnesty programme coordinator’

In another development, the House has called for the appointment of a substantive coordinator for the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

The House, on Thursday, adopted a motion moved by Mr Preye Oseke, titled, ‘Urgent Need to Appoint a Substantive Coordinator for the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the Niger Delta Region’.

Following the adoption, the House mandated its Committee on National Security and Intelligence to interface with relevant agencies of government in ensuring that a substantive coordinator for the PAP was “urgently appointed in order to douse the already growing tension in the region.”

Meanwhile, the House Committee on the NDDC has indicted the commission’s Interim Management Committee after its investigation of alleged extra-budgetary spending and mismanagement of funds.

The committee recommended members of the IMC for prosecution by anti-corruption agencies for alleged breach of financial regulations.

At the plenary on Thursday, the committee laid its report on the probe, but the House stepped down its consideration for a review.

The Chairman of the committee, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who excused himself from the probe based on the demand of the IMC, laid the report.

Both the Senate and the House had on May 5, 2020, separately resolved to investigate the alleged spending of over N40bn by the Expanded Interim Management Committee of the NDDC between October 2019 and May 2020 without approval.

It was later discovered that the NDDC had spent N81.5bn by June 2020.

The committee recommended that “these gross violations should be reported to the anti-graft agencies for further investigation, prosecution and recovery.”

“The total sum made to the acting Managing Director (Prof. Daniel Pondei), the executive directors and other directors of the NDDC to attend overseas graduation be refunded, and failure to do so immediately, the anti-graft agencies should commence investigation, prosecution and recovery,” the committee recommended.

The panel also recommended that Ojuogboh should be sacked as director of projects, being a medical practitioner and not an engineer.

It said, “Based on Sections 12(1) and 12(1)(a) of the NDDC Act 2000, Dr Cairo Godson Ojuogboh is unqualified and unfit to occupy the office of Executive Director, Projects, NDDC, and should be discharged forthwith from that position and all affected employees recalled.”

It also said the monitoring and advisory bodies of the agency, which was recognised by the Act that established the NDDC, should be inaugurated immediately.

It noted that Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs had no capacity to supervise the forensic audit and therefore demanded that the Auditor-General for the Federation should take full charge of the exercise for transparency and efficiency.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said the report would be submitted to the President, who “is eagerly expecting it.”

Meanwhile, A civil society organisation, the Centre for Leadership and Justice, has called for the dissolution of the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission over allegations of mismanagement of funds meant for the development of the Niger Delta region.

The President of the group, Emmanuel Umohinyang, also expressed disappointment in the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, for failing to wield the big stick when it became obvious that the NDDC management was derailing from its objective.

Umohinyang explained in an interview with one of our correspondents that with the controversies surrounding the management of funds by the IMC, the committee did not deserve to continue to preside over the agency.

Umohinyang, who is the Convener, Re-elect Buhari, and currently an aide to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), warned that the NDDC might be scrapped if the people refused to fight for its survival.

Akpabio recants as Reps move to sue the minister for defamation, perjury

The House of Representatives has resolved to sue the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for alleged perjury and defamation of the parliament.

Akpabio had on Monday, while appearing before the House Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission at an investigative hearing on the alleged illegal spending and mismanagement by the NDDC, alleged that members of the National Assembly got 60 per cent of contracts from the commission.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, with the leave of the House, on Tuesday, had asked the minister to provide details of the contracts between 24 hours and 48 hours.

At the opening of plenary on Thursday, Gbajabiamila announced that Akpabio failed to meet the ultimatum to prove his allegation.

The Speaker said he had consequently asked the Clerk to the House, Patrick Giwa, to meet the lawyers on the legal action to be taken against the minister.

Gbajabiamila said, “Last Tuesday, I issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to substantiate his allegation that over 60 per cent of contracts awarded by the NDDC went to members of the National Assembly. I said then that the minister owed it to himself and the country to provide evidence to support these serious allegations.

“The minister has failed to respond to my request. Therefore, I must conclude that his statement was intended solely to gaslight the nation to avoid accountability for the evident maladministration and malfeasance in the NDDC.

“This morning, I asked the Clerk of the House to engage the services of legal counsel and instruct them to initiate a criminal complaint of perjury against the minister. At the same time, we will instruct the counsel to explore the possibility of a civil defamation suit against the minister.”

About one hour later, the Speaker announced that Akpabio had replied the House and recanted the claim.

In a letter read out by Gbajabiamila, the minister said, “I never referred to members of the 9th House of Representatives as beneficiaries of the NDDC contracts, as the NDDC is yet to fully implement any budget since the commencement of the 9th National Assembly.”

Akpabio said the Executive Director, Projects, NDDC, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, forwarded to him 19 old contracts amounting to N9bn, which the Chairman of the House Committee on the NDDC, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, insisted that the IMC must pay for.

The minister stated, “As a former Minority Leader of the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I shall forever hold the ideals of the National Assembly and will not make the entire document public, which I got from the lead forensic auditor in confidence.

“As to the reference to 60 per cent of contracts, the investigative committee refused and neglected to give me (an) opportunity to explain that I was responding to a question by a member of the committee. Permit me to explain that any reference to 60 per cent during the investigative hearing was in answer to a question by a member of the committee as to whether or not a medical doctor could act as executive director, projects, which I answered in (the) affirmative and that the greatest project in the world today is COVID-19, which is medical in nature.

Drama as Senate walks out NDDC’s director from hearing

The Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, on Tuesday, walked out the Acting Executive Director, Projects of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Cairo Ojougboh out of an investigative hearing.

Ojougboh was among the management team of the Commission, who appeared before the Senate panel probing the allegation of ‘illegal’ sacking of staff of NDDC.

Reps give Akpabio 48 hours to name NASS members who got NDDC contracts

Collapse of NDDC MD underlines weight of corruption in APC – PDP

Trouble started when Ojougboh asked the Chairman of the committee, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, to step down.

He said the NDDC management will not get a fair hearing with Nwaoboshi as the chair.

Ojougboh had earlier accused Nwaoboshi and the House of Representatives committee chair on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo of padding the budget of the Commission.

Tunji-Ojo, on Monday, recused himself from the House panel probing alleged financial recklessness by the NDDC Interim Management Committee.

Ojougboh said, “We feel we cannot get fair hearing from the Committee. It is regrettable that we have to take this decision. As Chairman, you can excuse yourself from chairing the meeting. This Committee is not properly constituted, you cannot and will not preside over this meeting.”

Nwaoboshi, however, told Ojougboh that the hearing was not about financial recklessness, but about the alleged sack of staff.

“We will not allow you to come here and insult anyone. The Committee was put up by the Senate,” he said.

The Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Senator Amos Bulus; Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo) and Senator Eremienyo Degi (Bayelsa) urged Ojuogboh to stop the brickbacks as they were capable of postponing the issues at stake.

Ojougboh, however, did not softpedal, and the chairman asked him to excuse the panel “since you don’t want to take questions from us”.

Meanwhile, the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Caroline Nagbo said no staff of the agency was sacked.

“They were only asked to step aside for transparency and diligence.

“All such claims of sack, dismissal or suspension of staff of the NDDC are untrue and misleading,” Nagbo, who represented the Commission’s managing director, Kemerbrandikumo Pondei said.

Pondei, on Monday, collapsed during the House of Representatives investigative hearing.

Reps give Akpabio 48 hours to names of NASS members who got NDDC contracts

 

A former governor of Akwa Ibom State and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio The House of Representatives has asked Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to publish, within 48 hours, members of the 9th National Assembly who contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Ruling on a matter of privileges brought by Minority leader, Ndudi Elumelu, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said the Minister, who alleged 60 percent of contracts from the NDDC were given to members of the National Assembly, should publish the benefiting lawmakers, especially members of the 9th Assembly. 

He further said the names of their companies and the contracts they got should be published or face the wrath of the House.

Gbajabiamila said the Minister owes it a duty to himself, the House Committee on Niger Delta, the people of Niger Delta and Nigerians to publish the names. 

The allegation Akpabio, had alleged that most of the contracts of the NDDC were awarded to the National Assembly members. The minister, in Abuja on Monday, said this to the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC investigating financial mismanagement in the NDDC.

“Most of the contracts in NDDC are awarded to National Assembly members,” he said. A member of the committee, Boma Goodhead (PDP, Rivers) challenged Akpabio: “You were a member of the NDDC Committee in the 8th Assembly. “Are you telling me that lots of jobs were awarded to you?” Responding, the minister said: “No.”

The lawmaker took on him again, saying “If you were not awarded the contracts, why are you coming here to say that you are aware that lawmakers were awarded contracts?” 

But as Akpabio attempted to respond, the deputy chairman of the committee, who presided over the session, Thomas Ereyitomi, interrupted him thus: “It’s okay Hon. Minister! It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay. Hon. Minister, it’s okay. Don’t talk again, off your mic.” 

Collapse of NDDC MD underlines weight of corruption in APC – PDP

National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the “dramatic collapse” of acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, while being grilled by the House of Representatives, further underscored the weight of corruption that has allegedly bedevilled the present administration.

Pondei “fainted” on Monday during his presentation at the ongoing probe of the agency by the House of Representatives.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and the Pondei-led NDDC’s Interim Management Committee (IMC) appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta over alleged corruption.

The PDP in a statement on Monday, by its National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan said Pondei “collapsed” under the weight and shame of overwhelming collective guilt brought on him by the exposure of massive corruption allegedly being perpetrated by NDDC officials and APC leaders.

The party also reiterated its call on President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the Minister of Niger Delta Affair, Godswill Akpabio and to also disband the NDDC Interim Management Committee (IMC), if he desired the coordinated probe he ordered to yield any credible results.

“Mr. President must note that the malevolent odour of corruption oozing out of his administration are too odious to be swept under the carpets.

“It is revealing that Pondei could go no further in the face of scathing revelations of direct pillaging of resources meant for the development and welfare of the Niger Delta people, in an unbridled corruption racket, in which the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, also stands accused.

“It is rather curious that Prof. Pondei slumped after lawmakers demanded that he offers explanations on the contentious payment of billions of naira, alleged unbudgeted sums, to certain companies by the NDDC.

“This is particularly as Nigerians recall that the embattled NDDC boss had, last week, stalled proceedings by challenging the legislators and walking out on the House of Representatives investigative panel,” the party said.

There should be no sacred cow in an investigation of NDDC scam, Group tasks FG, Niger Delta stakeholders

A group has reacted to startling revelation arising from the investigation of the Federal government intervention agency, the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Addressing newsmen on Friday in Abuja, the Civil Society Advocacy Groups for Accountability and Probity advised those whose names have been mentioned in the alleged sleaze not to frustrate government in its efforts of the forensic audit of the agency and the ongoing investigation by the various committees of the National Assembly.

Mr Solomon Adodo and Mr Igwe Ude-umanta, Convener and Co-convener of the group respectively lauded the initiative of the Federal Government to conduct a forensic audit of the NDDC ahead inauguration of its substantive Board.

“As the group that keeps watching on Society, the media is aware that since President Muhammadu Buhari vowed to sanitize the Niger-Delta Development Committee (NDDC) last year, it has received support by concerned Nigerians, but has also been under heavy politicization by those who know that their hands are soiled. They have taken to the media (social and traditional), organized protests, sponsored riots all to no avail. They tried to discredit the wisdom and discretion of Mr President in taking some administrative decisions such as the setting up of an Interim Management Committee to carry out a thorough forensic audit. As we speak today, the probe into the activities of the various previous managements of the NDDC is ongoing and being thoroughly carried out by the Interim Management Committee.

“The will of the Federal Government to confront the ills in the NDDC is unshaken. So, politics has increased in order to divert attention. But of particular worry is the reason why the former Acting Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Joi Nunieh has refused to answer her summons to appear before the Investigative Committee of the House of Representatives on the NDDC. She has also refused to yield to the Nigeria Police for questioning. What else could be the reason except for evasion of justice?

“And it becomes more worrisome when Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, shields her from arrest, claiming that she was being abducted and that he was protecting a citizen of Rivers State. Gov. Wike has always found reasons to obstruct investigations. We are sad that Wike who claims to be the defender of Rivers people only extends that defence to those who have been accused of feeding fat on the country or other crimes. He should desist forthwith. And he should release Dr Joy Nunieh to the Nigeria Police for investigation.”

The group further asked the former Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Joy Nunieh to explain her stewardship and come clean on all allegations levelled against her.

It further urged President Mohammadu Buhari to remain resolute in his commitment to sanitise the NDDC for the benefit all of Niger Deltans and assured him of total support to actualize his vision.