The Senate Committee has issued a warrant of arrest on the entire members of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) following their refusal to appear before it to answer allegations of diverting and misappropriating N6.2 billion COVID-19 palliatives.
He said if the commission had nothing to hide, its management should come forward and explain what happened to the money meant to alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta region.
The money was approved last year by President Muhammadu Buhari to cushion the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Niger Delta region.
The money was reportedly released to the former Interim Management Committee (IMC) of NDDC headed by Professor Keme Pondei, with Effiong Akwa, Caroline Naagbo and Cairo Ojougbo as members.
Akwa was later appointed a Sole Administrator of the commission by Buhari following the dissolution of the IMC.
A former agitator, High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich, who was appointed by the President to chair the distribution of the palliatives, later raised the alarm in a petition he sent to the Senate, alleging the NDDC management diverted and misappropriated the entire sum of N6.2 billion.
But the efforts of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to crack the case and make recommendations hit a brick-wall as members of the NDDC management refused to appear before the Committee and make its presentation.
The committee was angry that the NDDC management snubbed its invitation for appearance for the fourth time and proceeded to issue the warrant of arrest on the management.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, briefly stated the facts of the case and said while Jackrich consistently honoured invitations sent to him for appearance, NDDC refused to appear before the Committee.
Akinyelure described the allegations of diversion and misappropriation of the palliative money approved for the needy and the poor in the Niger Delta as serious, saying the commission must tell Nigerians how it spent the money.
While reacting to the decision of the Senate Committee, Jackrich said it was irresponsible of the NDDC to keep disobeying the invitations of the committee.
The money was reportedly released to the former Interim Management Committee (IMC) of NDDC headed by Professor Keme Pondei, with Effiong Akwa, Caroline Naagbo and Cairo Ojougbo as members.
Akwa was later appointed a Sole Administrator of the commission by Buhari following the dissolution of the IMC.
A former agitator, High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich, who was appointed by the President to chair the distribution of the palliatives, later raised the alarm in a petition he sent to the Senate, alleging the NDDC management diverted and misappropriated the entire sum of N6.2 billion.
But the efforts of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to crack the case and make recommendations hit a brick-wall as members of the NDDC management refused to appear before the Committee and make its presentation.
The committee was angry that the NDDC management snubbed its invitation for appearance for the fourth time and proceeded to issue the warrant of arrest on the management.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, briefly stated the facts of the case and said while Jackrich consistently honoured invitations sent to him for appearance, NDDC refused to appear before the Committee.
Akinyelure described the allegations of diversion and misappropriation of the palliative money approved for the needy and the poor in the Niger Delta as serious, saying the commission must tell Nigerians how it spent the money.
While reacting to the decision of the Senate Committee, Jackrich said it was irresponsible of the NDDC to keep disobeying the invitations of the committee.
He said if the commission had nothing to hide, its management should come forward and explain what happened to the money meant to alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta region.
from the WillNigeria
NDDC & Niger Delta people I dey hail una.
ReplyDeleteYinmu! Arrest who..Them dey announce am so that they can settle them quickly..Theatrics and Gimmicks..2nd base jare
DeleteMoney that has been used to build houses and buy cars for Nollywood actresses and BBNaija babes, lol.
DeleteThis country na comedy skit.
ReplyDeleteNah wah oh! What kind of country is this
ReplyDeleteIf these people would at least put this same energy that they exert in the NDDC into stabilizing our currency,into making this country more secure,into ensuring power stability and in providing jobs,these country would be better for it
ReplyDeleteThey all need to be arrested
ReplyDeleteIs this the only place billions of naira are missing?????????????
ReplyDeleteLet them start from somewhere first, or you don't want them to do anything at all.
DeleteI remember saying NDDC should be scrapped.
ReplyDeleteFainting spree loading in a bit💃💃💃💃💃💃💃
ReplyDeleteAkpabio will soon start spilling some beans, then the will start shouting 'off the mic! Off the mic!!!'
ReplyDelete