NDDC: Pondei reveals those scared of probe

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NDDC: Pondei reveals those scared of probe

The Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says those who got “emergency contracts” are scared of the ongoing forensic audit.

The Senate had noted Pondei and other IMC members got 20 – 30 percent of contract sums before contractors are paid.

It cited the submission by the Chairman, NDDC Contractors, Joe Adia.

The Ad-hoc committee probing the multi-billion Naira scandal in NDDC is chaired by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (APC – Ekiti North).Members are Senators Jika Dauda Haliru (APC – Bauchi Central); Mohammed Tanko Almakura (APC – Nasarawa South); Abdulfatai Buhari (APC – Oyo North); Chukwuka Utazi (PDP – Enugu North); Ibrahim Hadeija (APC – Jigawa North); and Biobarakuma Wangaha (APC – Bayelsa East).

The committee said claims by the IMC and Minister for Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, that NDCC headquarters was 95 percent is false.

In a statement on Monday, Edgar Ebigoni, spokesman to Acting MD, Kemebradikumo Pondei, recalled that Pondei denied the allegations and challenged anyone to come forward with evidence. He said Pondei stated that he never requested or received kickbacks.

“It is therefore surprising and disappointing the Senate Committee can be attributed with unproven allegations as their final report,” he said.

Ebigoni said the committee chose to believe the naysayers who claimed that the NDDC headquarters was not nearing completion.

“Whatever made the Senate Ad-Hoc sit in Abuja to accept a negative report rather than accept the challenge of the IMC to visit the headquarters themselves, for an unbiased assessment, is yet unknown. The admittance of the committee that the Forensic Audit is ongoing is a welcome development,” he added.