Politics
N1tn DEBTS: FG begins probe, clean-up of NDDC, as EFCC seals director’s mansion
The Federal Government has said it is currently investigating the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over debts owed contractors to the time of about N1 trillion.
The Government said it wants to access the activities of the commission with the probe as well as establish what has been happening with the huge funds sunk into it over the 17 years of its existence.
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, who stated this in Abuja on Thursday, also stated that the probe will among other things verify all projects and resources deployed to the commission since it was created in the year 2000.
This is coming at a time the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has seized a mansion allegedly belonging to a former Executive Director, Finance and Administration, of the commission, Henry Ogiri.
According to Usani, there is also need to clean up the commission over allegations that some staff are in the business of demanding for percentages before contract payments are made.
Read also : We still recover stolen funds on daily basis –Adeosun
He said due to the over N1 trillion debt owed contractors by NDDC, the Federal Government is bent at establishing what happened to the monies the commission has gotten in the past 17 years.
“The region is deplorable and the question is that for all these years that resources had been allocated there, what has been happening and this curiosity leads us to research what is responsible for the situation.
“That led to the knowledge of so much debts without anything to show for it. So we are compelled by circumstances, not by our desire, to know why so much waste had taken place,” he said.
The EFCC on its part, said Ogiri’s property was seized as part of ongoing investigation of George Turnah former PA to MD, NDDC on youth development.
The property is located at 28, New Heaven Estate, off Tombia Street, New G.R.A
Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The anti-graft body stated that Ogiri is being investigated for conspiracy, stealing and money laundering.
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JOHNSON PETER
July 21, 2017 at 2:35 pm
I see , ogiri who has made his money for long, stop indicting people all in the name of politics. Go after real politicians and release the names of looters who returned money as ordered by the court
seyi jelili
July 22, 2017 at 8:52 am
Are you sensitive at all, who knows origi before now, which money did he make if not from looted funds.
Animashaun Ayodeji
July 21, 2017 at 4:58 pm
I hope the EFCC will get to the depth of this matter to know why the region is not developed and why many millions of dollars are disappearing without anything to show for it.
Abeni Adebisi
July 21, 2017 at 5:01 pm
We all know how the EFCC operates, they will start very well, in fact with very good publicity to back their actions up, but when it gets to a court level, nothing would be done and the anti graft agency will suddenly put a stop to their investigation and lose in the court of law. I see EFCC moving in the same old path.
Anita Kingsley
July 21, 2017 at 5:03 pm
I’ll be glad if the EFCC can flush out all the eveil leaders consuming public funds and making niger delta people live in abject poverty despite how weathly the region is.
seyi jelili
July 22, 2017 at 8:55 am
Niger Delta indigenes are the problems of themselves. After all origi is their son but yet stealing money meant for the development of his people
yanju omotodun
July 22, 2017 at 10:59 am
See mansions? White for that matter, this is white embezzlement so the efcc should treat him whitely. Lol