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NDDC: 30 Lawmakers, Ex-Governors, Police, Army, Others Listed In Contract Fraud By Akpabio

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Group Petitions Buhari, EFCC, Alleges N700 Billion Rip-off at NDDC

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio has listed several lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly as beneficiaries of contract frauds from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The Minister also added other top government functionaries including ex-Governors, the EFFC, Army, Police, and politicians as beneficiaries of the contract scam.

Some of the lawmakers listed in the controversial letter by Akpabio are House of Rep members from Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Imo, as well as unnamed ‘Caucus in the House of Representatives’.

The letter added that the time ultimatum given by the House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila for him to respond to the allegation that over 60% of NDDC contracts were awarded to National Assembly lawmakers was not enough for the letter to contain a proper breakdown of the names and contracts gotten by affected legislators.

However, Naija News understands that no fewer than 30 members of the House of Representatives are expected to appear before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges over the allegations based on a directive from Speaker Gbajabiamila after receiving the letter.

Previously, Akpabio had also listed some Senators whom he alleged benefited from the NDDC contracts.

The three-page letter with Ref. No: MNDA/HM/041/IV/158 dated 23rd July 2020, and titled ‘Some Niger Delta Development Commission contracts allegedly given to some members of the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives)’, alleged that the investigating committee on NDDC refused and/or neglected to give him the “opportunity to explain that the reference to most NDDC contracts yearly being awarded since 2001 from the records allegedly to members of the National Assembly in both chambers.

“However, the two chairmen of the committee on NDDC had adequate knowledge.”

The minister further added that: “It has always been known that the two chairmen of the Committees on NDDC in both chambers yearly exhibit unusual influence to the exclusion of committee members and even the management of NDDC in appropriating funds to details embellished in the budget after passage of the line items at the plenaries.”

“To show you some typical examples, herewith attached are documents showing nature of contracts, amount of such contracts (in some cases), date of awards and beneficiaries some were awarded to the two chairmen of both Committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate respectively serving at the period of the awards (Annexures ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘D’). However due to the 48 hours’ notice the Forensic Auditors could not sift through the thousands of files in their possession to provide more.”

“Some of the members listed in the controversial letter are from: Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Imo, as well as unnamed ‘Caucus in the House of Representatives.”

Some of the acronyms written on the Annexures A, B, C and D attached to the Minister’s letter are: Bayelsa Rep who got contract worth N413,293,006.88; Ondo Rep/Ubadinma Blessing who got contracts worth N552,563,379.38; Imo Rep who got contracts worth N585,577,933.50; Edo Rep who got contracts worth N502,435,025.17; House of Reps caucus also got contracts worth N254,384,426.63 with contract details of Kabaka Brown; NE Rep got two contracts worth got 2 contracts worth N717.555 million; while one Hon. Nadu who got contract worth N484,762,887.

Also listed beneficiaries of the multi-billion naira NDDC contractors are: TC/COP Villa/MD who got several contracts for undisclosed amounts; AIG Operations Abuja who got contracts worth N186,771,348.75, while DIG/Ochei got contract worth N348,702,613.61; GOC 6 Division also got contract worth N349,976,919.86; CSO/CNC got contract worth N150,342,858.75; MD/EFCC for a contact of Godwin Udoidiong for undisclosed amount; George Moghalu National Auditor/EDP also got contracts worth N198,397,145.63; EDP/Giadom also got contract worth N663,155,999.63 and N649,013 million; while Justice Nnamdi Dimgha FHC got contract worth N249,555,206.25.