Senate probes NDDC over alleged N100bn contract scam

The Senate has commenced investigations into an alleged N100 billion contract scam in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Matthew Urhoghide, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

The lawmaker decried the lack of accountability in the NDDC, saying the investigations would cover January 1, 2013 to June 30, 2018.

He said: “We have invited NDDC to come, they don’t have records of financial transactions. They will appear before us on Wednesday.

“They have 47 queries and we are going at it. The issue is from 1 to 47 and we are going to personalize any refund. It is painful that N100 billion was spent without justification.

READ ALSO: Every stolen kobo in NDDC will be recovered, culprits punished – Buhari

“We equally invite them for status enquiry on all revenue into their accounts. We are waiting for the NDDC, if they don’t come, we will take necessary action against them.”

President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2019 ordered the forensic audit of the NDDC since 2001.

The President’s directive followed the allegation of funds misappropriation by the commission’s successive management teams.

He had since promised to implement the recommendations of the auditors and recover every kobo stolen from the intervention agency since its establishment.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now