‘The Chairmen Of The Committee Investigating NDDC Probe Are Involved In Contracts’ – Ubani

The former Vice President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Monday Ubani, on Sunday revealed that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, released the list of lawmakers involved in contracts in the Niger Delta Development Commission to the National Assembly.

The senior lawyer, however, noted that the committee investigating the fraud allegations in the commission failed to read the part of Akpabio’s letter containing the detailed list.

Ubani in his statement on Channels TV on Sunday noted that the Chairmen of the two Committees (House of Representatives and the Senate) probing activities of the commission were named in Akpabio’s list.

According to him, “My findings are that this honourable Minister sent a letter with the attachment of names of (members) of the present House, especially the two Committee Chairmen of the two chambers, the Senate and House Representatives that were involved in contracts in NDDC.”

“And those were not brought to the attention of the House.”

“What was read was the second paragraph that was to them very beneficial and they were all clapping and rejoicing whereas the letter was rather comprehensive and very clearly indicated names that were involved in the contract thing in NDDC.”

Recall that the former governor of Akwa Ibom State had linked contracts awarded by the NDDC to members of the National Assembly, saying that the majority of the contracts awarded were handled by the lawmakers.

He said, “Most of the contracts at NDDC are handled by members of the National Assembly.”

Following his statement, members of the House charged the Minister to release the names of the lawmakers involved within 48 hours.

Akpabio, however, forwarded the names of the lawmakers to the Committee but the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, failed to read the list on the floor of the house.