ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has asked the relevant authorities to cause an independent probe into the allegation that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) paid N20bn to ghost contractors for fictitious desilting contracts.
The group also alleged that there was a sinister plan by some mischievous elements to cover up the illegal payment by setting on fire some parts of the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The group faulted the commission’s reaction to its allegation that the NDDC under the supervision of the Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, made the payment using forged signatures of a former Acting Managing Director, Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, and a former Executive Director (Projects), Samuel Adjogbe.
The IYC in a statement on Friday by its spokesperson, Mr Ebilade Ekerefe, said the probe should also include the allegations that 60 per cent of the N20bn illegally paid out by the NDDC was moved to Abuja through the bureaux de change (BDC).
Ekerefe said the alleged financial sleaze currently rocking the NDDC was of monumental proportion, surpassing similar underhand dealings that led to the initiation of the forensic audit of the commission.
He said: “We are insisting on an independent investigation into the financial activities of the NDDC in the last one year despite the weak and desperate denial by the commission.
“We are not shocked by the response signed by the commission’s Director, Corporate Affairs, Dr Ibitoye Abosede. We are amused that NDDC failed to recognize the IYC as a key stakeholder in the Niger Delta region.
“We are also amused that the NDDC was silent on the reasons behind its failure to pay money owed to aggrieved local contractors who have completed their jobs.
“IYC is​ a​ civil rights​ organisation in​ Nigeria, founded in 1998, which supports the interests of the​ Ijaw​ ethnic​ group​ of the Niger Delta. We are neither a political group nor being sponsored by anyone.
“We are no longer worried by the weak claims and attempts to blackmail and divide the IYC by Akapabio and the Interim Administrator, Akwa Effiong. When Akpabio pleaded and met with us in Abuja over agitations on the development of the region, were we not ‘one ijaw group?”
​Ekerefe said it was regrettable that after all the protests and agitations, the constitution of the substantive board of the NDDC had been rebuffed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said further: “We will continue to agitate for the constitution of a substantive board because it is the right thing to do. Despite the name-calling by the NDDC, the IYC will not relent in monitoring the activities of the existing illegal Interim management of the commission and reporting our findings to members of the public.
“We, therefore, insist that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) visit the commission and scrutinise the books from November, 2021 to February, 2022. We insist that both Senator Godswill Akpabio and Akwa Effiong be asked to step aside and allow such investigation to take place.
“We are also using this opportunity to alert the general public to the plot to set ablaze the headquarters of the commission in a desperate attempt to cover up the financial crime committed within the commission against the Niger Delta people.
“Already we are aware that in order to set the stage for such arson, they have started making false claims of threats by some groups to blow up the NDDC headquarters.
“​We call on the security agencies to be on full alert to stop those involved in the financial misdeeds within the commission from burning the only legacy achieved under Akpabio.
“Once again, we want the people of the Niger Delta region to know that the IYC is not intimidated by the lies and conspiracies from the Minister of Niger Delta and his cohorts.”