Presidency to pay for NDDC’s Forensic Audit, as FEC approves N722.3m for programme

*Auditors to look into 12,000 abandoned projects

The Minister of Niger Delta, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, has disclosed that the money for the Forensic Audit of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will come directly from Presidency.

The Minister, making this disclosure while briefing the State House correspondents after the virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, said this became necessary as the National Assembly is on break and the 2020 budget for the NDDC has not been passed.

To this end, Akpabio said FEC had approved N722.3 million for eight field forensic auditors to audit the NDDC.

It was gathered that the field auditors will also look into the 12,000 abandoned projects in the Niger Delta.

The NDDC became a subject of controversy over allegations of corruption in the award of contracts and the non-payment of Nigerian scholars under the payroll of the commission.

Following this, the National Assembly invited Akpabio and the NDDC boss, Daniel Pondei to probe the activities of the agency.

Appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC in a public hearing on July 20, Akpabio accused the lawmakers of benefitting from most contracts awarded by the commission.

However, this did not go down well them as the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila threatened a legal action should the Minister fail to name the purported lawmakers involved in the contracts.

The House also asked Akpabio, to publish the names of the members of the National Assembly who got contracts.

In a statement issued on July 28, the spokesman for the House and Committee Chairman on Media Affairs and Publicity, Benjamin Kalu, said that the minister had alleged that 60 percent of all the NDDC projects were awarded to members of the lawmakers between the months of January and May 2020.

Kalu explained that following the claim, the leadership of the 9th House issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Akpabio to publish a list of the lawmakers.

The House spokesman revealed that the lawmakers evaluated the minister’s letter and the directive to press charges against him have not been lifted.

Also, President Buhari reacted to the controversy trailing both the commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The President, who spoke after the Sallah service on July 31, said some people trusted by his administration have abused the privilege.