N81.5bn NDDC’s Corruption: Senate Calls For Refund Of N4.923bn Illegal Payment, Constitution Of Board

Babajide Okeowo
Writer

Ad

(Full List) Salah, Osimhen Nominated as CAF Unveils Nominees for 2025 African Male Player of the Year

By Abiola Olawale The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially released the much-anticipated shortlist for the 2025 African Men's Player of the Year award. Headlining the prestigious 10-man list are two of the continent's most electrifying stars: Egypt's Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) and Nigeria's Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, on loan from Napoli). ​The release of the…

Dramatic Twist as Kanu Names Malami, Wike, Buratai, Sanwo-Olu, Other Top Officials as Defence Witnesses

By Abiola Olawale ​Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has filed a motion listing a long array of prominent Nigerians, including serving and former top government officials, as his proposed defence witnesses. ​The list includes former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), Minister of the Federal Capital…

Panic as DSS Raises Alarm over ISWAP Plans to Attack Ondo, Kogi

By Abiola Olawale A wave of concern is sweeping across parts of Nigeria’s South-West and North-Central regions following a high-alert warning issued by the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding planned attacks by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Ondo and Kogi States. ​The internal memo, which has since generated significant public discourse…

Ad

The ongoing corruption probe into the activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC took a dramatic twist on Thursday when the Senate called on the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the commission to refund the N4.923 billion payments, made to staff and contractors.

They held that the payment was in breach of the procurement process and called for an immediate refund into the NDDC’s Account with immediate effect.

This development is coming on the heels of the adoption of recommendations of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee investigating the alleged misappropriation of N81.5 billion by the current IMC presented to the Senate by the Committee’s Chairman, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi representing Ekiti North Senatorial District.N81.5bn NDDC's Corruption

Read also: NDDC Probe: NASS Set To Decide Akpabio, Others’ Fate Today

A breakdown of the refund included N85.7million for Overseas Travel to the United Kingdom, N105.5 million for Scholarship grants, and N164.2 million for Union Members’ trip to Italy

Other refunds to be made to the NDDC’s Account by the IMC include N1.96 billion as payment made for Lassa Fever Kit, N1.12 billion for payment for Public Communication and N1.49 billion COVID-19 fund.

The recommendations approved by the Senate also indicated that henceforth, the NDDC should report directly to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The committee also called for the dissolution of the IMC and set up a board for the commission. They also recommended that oversight of the forensic audit should be transferred to the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, to ensure transparency.

It urged the Federal Government to appoint a renowned auditor to supervise the forensic audit.

Read also: Wike Rescues Joi Nunieh From Police, Whisks Ex-NDDC MD To Govt House

It recommended the strengthening of the NDDC’s procurement department through appropriate staff engagement, by appointing staff with procurement chartered status, improved staff training among other policies on the procurement process.

They lamented that the continued cash injection in the Niger Delta has not worked under the various IMCs.

Similarly, the Senate recommended a review of the corporate social responsibility of the NDDC, adding that it was difficult to find a correlation between the Niger Delta community development and the cash invested in the zone.

Ad

X whatsapp