*Probes alleged missing N27bn PHCN workers’ pension
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
The Senate on Monday resolved to issue a warrant for the arrest
of the Sole Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission
(NDDC), Effiong Akwa, over his refusal to appear before it in
relation to an alleged mismanagement of N6.2 billion on COVID-19
palliatives by the agency’s management last year.
![image](/2021/01/payne-alex.jpg")
The upper legislative chamber is also probing the reported
missing N27 billion pension funds of the defunct Power Holding
Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and
Public Petitions, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, who spoke at the public
hearing of the committee, stated that the committee had resolved
that a warrant of arrest be issued to compel the Sole Administrator
of the NDDC to appear before it.
He frowned on Akwa’s failure to appear before it to respond to
an allegation that the commission diverted N6.28 billion meant to
procure COVID-19 palliatives approved by President Muhammadu Buhari
for the Niger Delta region.
The committee had summoned the NDDC four times after a petition
submitted to it by the Chairman of the COVID-19 Palliative
Distribution Committee of the NDDC, Chief Sobomavo Jackrich,
alleging that the then Interim Management Committee of NDDC
mismanaged the N6.28 billion earmarked by the federal government
for the people of the region.
Speaking to newsmen after the hearing, the petitioner, Mr.
Jackrich Sobomabo, stated how much efforts and resources he had
invested to coordinate the palliative before the NDDC management
allegedly misappropriated the funds.
He said: “I was appointed the palliative chairman, but when the
sum of N6.2 billion was released by the federal government, the
NDDC management spent the fund without my knowing.”
Also on Monday, the committee resolved to investigate the
alleged missing N27 billion which was meant for the payment of
former workers of the defunct PHCN.
It, therefore, directed the National Association of Disengaged
Staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria to provide further
documents to substantiate its allegations to facilitate the
investigation.
The Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) had written to disown
the private company which it allegedly was hired to pay the money
to the ex-workers.
Emmanuel Okere, who represented the former PHCN workers, had
told the committee that he had tried to meet the BPE many times to
discuss the issue, adding that the BPE refused to create the
opportunity for it.
He pleaded with the committee to use its powers to prevail on
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to avail it
with some documents relating to the alleged missing N27
billion.
He said: “This panel can accomplish more results if you write to
the EFCC . I believe that the Senate committee cannot be helpless
in getting the document because if that happens, the fate of the
poor ex-workers is best imagined.”
The association had informed the Senate committee that it
discovered the existence of some hidden monies meant for the
payment of their pension.
*Probes alleged missing N27bn PHCN workers’ pension
The Senate on Monday resolved to issue a warrant for the arrest
of the Sole Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission
(NDDC), Effiong Akwa, over his refusal to appear before it in
relation to an alleged mismanagement of N6.2 billion on COVID-19
palliatives by the agency’s management last year.
The upper legislative chamber is also probing the reported
missing N27 billion pension funds of the defunct Power Holding
Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and
Public Petitions, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, who spoke at the public
hearing of the committee, stated that the committee had resolved
that a warrant of arrest be issued to compel the Sole Administrator
of the NDDC to appear before it.
He frowned on Akwa’s failure to appear before it to respond to
an allegation that the commission diverted N6.28 billion meant to
procure COVID-19 palliatives approved by President Muhammadu Buhari
for the Niger Delta region.
The committee had summoned the NDDC four times after a petition
submitted to it by the Chairman of the COVID-19 Palliative
Distribution Committee of the NDDC, Chief Sobomavo Jackrich,
alleging that the then Interim Management Committee of NDDC
mismanaged the N6.28 billion earmarked by the federal government
for the people of the region.
Speaking to newsmen after the hearing, the petitioner, Mr.
Jackrich Sobomabo, stated how much efforts and resources he had
invested to coordinate the palliative before the NDDC management
allegedly misappropriated the funds.
He said: “I was appointed the palliative chairman, but when the
sum of N6.2 billion was released by the federal government, the
NDDC management spent the fund without my knowing.”
Also on Monday, the committee resolved to investigate the
alleged missing N27 billion which was meant for the payment of
former workers of the defunct PHCN.
It, therefore, directed the National Association of Disengaged
Staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria to provide further
documents to substantiate its allegations to facilitate the
investigation.
The Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) had written to disown
the private company which it allegedly was hired to pay the money
to the ex-workers.
Emmanuel Okere, who represented the former PHCN workers, had
told the committee that he had tried to meet the BPE many times to
discuss the issue, adding that the BPE refused to create the
opportunity for it.
He pleaded with the committee to use its powers to prevail on
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to avail it
with some documents relating to the alleged missing N27
billion.
He said: “This panel can accomplish more results if you write to
the EFCC . I believe that the Senate committee cannot be helpless
in getting the document because if that happens, the fate of the
poor ex-workers is best imagined.”
The association had informed the Senate committee that it
discovered the existence of some hidden monies meant for the
payment of their pension.