NDDC Probe: You Must Refund ₦4.9 Billion COVID-19 Palliatives

The Senate has directed the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to refund all the money spent for COVID-19 palliatives.

Naija News recalls that , the upper legislative chamber set up a probe panel chaired by Olubunmi Adetunmbi, senator representing Ekiti north, following
allegations that the commission mismanaged N40 billion.

At the hearing, Kemebradikumo Pondei, acting managing director of the commission, said no money was missing and that since he assumed office
in February, the interim committee has been paying contractors owed for years.

Pondei also defended the N3.14 billion his management committee disbursed to its 4,000 workers and police commands in nine states as
COVID-19 relief.

While presenting his report on the floor of the senate on Thursday, Adetunmbi said although his panel did not gather enough information on
the ongoing forensic audit at the commission, there are indications that it is “substandard and compromised.”

The upper legislative chamber also approved a recommendation that the  commission should report directly to the presidency and not the
ministry.