Politics

Senate panel, Akpabio faceoff over NDDC gets messier

Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 11:26 AM by Nnenna Ibeh

- The minister of Niger Delta Affairs and the lawmakers of the Senate have continued in their war of words over allegations of fraud within the commission

- The Senate on Monday, December 9, urged the minister to explain to Nigerians how the $91million and N6billion that were in the agency’s coffers utilised

- The Senate also alleged that Godswill Akpabio is frustrating the inauguration of the new NDDC board members

The controversy between lawmakers of the Nigerian Senate and the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, over allegations of fraudulent practices in the ministry continued on Monday, December 9.

Guardian reports that the lawmakers and the minister blamed each other over the delay in the inauguration of the NDDC board which was confirmed by the Senate last month.

Speaking on the allegation that it has been placed on a consultancy fee of N1 billion by the agency, the chairman of the Senate committee on NDDC, Peter Nwaoboshi, said documents should be made available to substantiate the claim.

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Senate panel, Akpabio faceoff over NDDC gets messier — Akpabio was a senator in the 8th National Assembly alongside Nwaoboshi.
Source: Depositphotos

Nwaoboshi in a statement released by his special adviser on legislative matters, Luka Igbonoba, accused the minister of frustrating the inauguration of the new NDDC board members.

Nwaoboshi challenged Akpabio to explain to Nigerians how the $91million and N6billion that were in the agency’s coffers as at the time it was brought under the supervision of his ministry were utilised.

In his reaction, the acting managing director of NDDC, Gbene Nunieh, said the monthly payment of N1 billion consultancy fee had been suspended.

Nunieh said the consultant was collecting money from the International Oil Companies (IOCs) on its behalf.

“We have a consulting firm engaged as a collection agent. We have another company that also collects three per cent whenever money is paid by the IOCs,” Nunieh said.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Akpabio while confirming he was under attack said some people are uncomfortable with President Muhammadu Buhari's decision to probe NDDC.