Presidency, on Friday, denied reports that it has dissolved the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
National Assembly had during the week called for the dissolution of the IMC and the return of the NDDC to the Presidency for direct supervision.
Senate ad hoc committee that probed the alleged financial recklessness of the IMC to the tune of tens of billions of naira had on Thursday lamented the extra-budgetary spending of the committee and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately dissolve the committee.
The House of Representatives is also currently probing alleged corruption in the NDDC.
But Special Adviser to the Preisdent on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a reaction to reports in some sections of the media that the IMC had been dissolved due to the calls by the National Assembly, said no such action had been taken.
Adesina, in a statement on Friday titled, ‘Fake News On NDDC Attributed To Me,’wrote, “A statement purportedly signed by me has been making the rounds that the Federal Government has dissolved the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC.
“Merchants of fake news in action. The communication did not emanate from the media office of the President. Please ignore.”
In October 2019, President Buhari set up a three-man committee “to create the enabling environment for the forensic audit” that covers 18 years of NDDC’s operations between 2001 and 2019.
The NDDC IMC was later enlarged to five in February 2020 by the President following the termination of the appointment of the then acting Managing Director, Joy Nunieh, who was replaced by Kemebradikumo Pondei.
Other members of the committee are acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Ibanga Etang; acting Executive Director, Projects, Cairo Ojougboh; as well as two members Caroline Nagbo; Cecilia Akintomide.