NDDC: We Gave Niger Delta Governors N100m Each For COVID-19

•Panel insists on arrest warrant against agency’s sole
administrator

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has claimed that
it gave each of the governors of the nine oil-producing states
N100million each as COVID-19 palliatives.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges and Public
Petitions, Senator Patrick Ayo Akinyelure, told reporters in Abuja
that NDDC officials made the claim.

He said the Senate may summon the governors to testify on how
the money was spent.

The sum is part of N6.25 billion allegedly expended by the NDDC
on COVID-19 palliatives.

Akinyelure said the governors may decide to delegate their
relevant “commissioners in-charge to respond to allegations made by
the management of the NDDC against them”.

He insisted that the NDDC Sole Administrator must appear before
it or risk an arrest warrant to be issued against him over
non-appearance.

He said the petition over the humongous amount spent by the
agency on COVID-19 palliatives will not be swept under the
carpet.

Akinyelure said: “We have already gone through the process of
warrant of arrest and we have reached 95 per cent stage of
completion.

“However, for the avoidance of doubt, immediately the warrant of
arrest was issued, representatives of the sole administrator came
to my office and verbally explained how the money was spent.

“They claimed that N100 million each was given to the nine state
governors in the Niger Delta region.

“We now asked them to make a written submission on their claims
to reach us before March 15 which was Monday but up till today
(Tuesday), we have not seen anything. This particular probe will
not be swept under the carpet.

“Therefore, we are calling on the NDDC sole administrator to
either produce the Pondei-led interim management committee team or
make available the position paper on how the palliatives were
shared on or before 3 p.m. on March 18 so that we could study their
submissions before March 29th when they are expected to defend
their position papers.

“We want to know how many governors pocketed these palliative
funds. We are aware that over N100 million each was given to each
state governments.

“That was contained in their verbal submission. We want them to
put it in writing. When was this money delivered? How many vehicles
were delivered to the governors?

“We would now call the governors to come and account for it
because none of the 27 Senators from the Niger Delta region is
aware of the COVID-19 palliative shared to the governors by the
NDDC. None of our constituents also benefitted.

“The Senate has the right to call for an investigation when the
interest of the public is at stake.

“If the funds and items were delivered to the governors, we will
call them to come and account.

“The state governors might not appear in person but we would
expect them to send their commissioners in charge to come and brief
us on the issue.

“We will also ask the governors why they failed to explain to
the National Assembly. We will demand details of the
disbursement.”

•Panel insists on arrest warrant against agency’s sole
administrator

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has claimed that
it gave each of the governors of the nine oil-producing states
N100million each as COVID-19 palliatives.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges and Public
Petitions, Senator Patrick Ayo Akinyelure, told reporters in Abuja
that NDDC officials made the claim.

He said the Senate may summon the governors to testify on how
the money was spent.

The sum is part of N6.25 billion allegedly expended by the NDDC
on COVID-19 palliatives.

Akinyelure said the governors may decide to delegate their
relevant “commissioners in-charge to respond to allegations made by
the management of the NDDC against them”.

He insisted that the NDDC Sole Administrator must appear before
it or risk an arrest warrant to be issued against him over
non-appearance.

He said the petition over the humongous amount spent by the
agency on COVID-19 palliatives will not be swept under the
carpet.

Akinyelure said: “We have already gone through the process of
warrant of arrest and we have reached 95 per cent stage of
completion.

“However, for the avoidance of doubt, immediately the warrant of
arrest was issued, representatives of the sole administrator came
to my office and verbally explained how the money was spent.

“They claimed that N100 million each was given to the nine state
governors in the Niger Delta region.

“We now asked them to make a written submission on their claims
to reach us before March 15 which was Monday but up till today
(Tuesday), we have not seen anything. This particular probe will
not be swept under the carpet.

“Therefore, we are calling on the NDDC sole administrator to
either produce the Pondei-led interim management committee team or
make available the position paper on how the palliatives were
shared on or before 3 p.m. on March 18 so that we could study their
submissions before March 29th when they are expected to defend
their position papers.

“We want to know how many governors pocketed these palliative
funds. We are aware that over N100 million each was given to each
state governments.

“That was contained in their verbal submission. We want them to
put it in writing. When was this money delivered? How many vehicles
were delivered to the governors?

“We would now call the governors to come and account for it
because none of the 27 Senators from the Niger Delta region is
aware of the COVID-19 palliative shared to the governors by the
NDDC. None of our constituents also benefitted.

“The Senate has the right to call for an investigation when the
interest of the public is at stake.

“If the funds and items were delivered to the governors, we will
call them to come and account.

“The state governors might not appear in person but we would
expect them to send their commissioners in charge to come and brief
us on the issue.

“We will also ask the governors why they failed to explain to
the National Assembly. We will demand details of the
disbursement.”