The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has revealed the names of the members of the National Assembly who are linked to some contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission.
However, Akpabio failed to reveal whether the lawmakers were directly awarded the contracts or they nominated the projects under their Zonal Intervention Project, which is also referred to as constituency project.
The former Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on the NDDC, Mr. Nicholas Mutu, who represents the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State, is among those linked by the minister with contracts in the NDDC.
Mutu’s name appears on 74 projects including many emergency roads projects in Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers states.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Mutu before Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbajo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 3, 2020 for alleged abuse of office and fraud of ₦320m.
Akpabio also linked the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs’ Chairman, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North), with 53 projects. The projects included emergency repairs of Asue Street, Owa Phase 2; Idumuogbe Road via Ojemaye; Otolokpo College Road, Otolokpo; and the Police Ishu Ani Ukwa Road, Issele Uku.
Names of other lawmakers who appear on NDDC contracts list include Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo-South), 6; James Manager (Delta-South), 6; Samuel Anyanwu (Imo-West, 8th Senate), 19; and others simply identified as Ondo and Edo Reps.
Akpabio, however, failed to provide the cost of the projects awarded to the lawmakers. However, he provided the cost of contracts awarded to non-lawmakers on various projects awarded to them.
Also, the contracts listed against the lawmakers’ names were not up to 60 percent of the 266 on the list provided by Akpabio.
Akpabio on Monday, while appearing before the House Committee on the NDDC during public hearing investigation on the alleged illegal spending and mismanagement of funds, alleged that 60 percent of contracts by the commission were awarded to members of the National Assembly.
Also, the minister copied the details of the list to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN)
