NDDC Defends Akpabio’s Alleged N500m Phony Contracts, Says Nwaoboshi Is The ‘Culprit’

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has come in defence of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over contracts worth N500 million alleged to have been awarded to companies linked to him.

BIGPEN had reported that Akpabio has been in the eyes of the storm over claims by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta that he allegedly used his position and influence as then Senate Minority Leader to secure the contracts worth N500 million from the Niger NDDC but failed to execute same.

The minister, however, has since denied the allegation, saying it was a smear campaign against him and that Nwaoboshi was jittery over the forensic audit of the NDDC.

But NDDC, in a statement by its Direcror, Corporate Affairs, Charles Obi Odili,on Monday, however, said that its searched through its records and find “no evidence of any contract awarded to Senator Akpabio or any company associated with him by the NDDC”.

“From our findings, the person who has questions to answer to the Niger Delta People is Senator Nwaoboshi.

“Our records show that Senator Nwaoboshi used 11 front companies (owned or traceable to him) to secure a contract of N3.6 billion in September 2016, in what is perhaps the biggest single case of looting of the Commission’s resources”, the interventionist agency alleges.

NDDC, in the statement listed the said companies/business names as:

Noan Integrated Services; De Towers Constructions & Allied Services Ltd; Franstine Nigeria Enterprises; Edrihide Company; Isumabe U.K. Global; Benchmark Construction & Allied Services Ltd, Millstone Allied Builders Ltd.; Nelpat Nigeria Company; Agh-Rown Ventures; Edendoma Stars International; and Antlers Construction and Allied Works Ltd.

Continuing, the statement reads; “The inventory records show that these items were supplied and received on Senator Nwaoboshi’s business premises and warehouse. Meanwhile, the contracts were awarded to him.

“However, some of the items supplied to Nwaoboshi’s warehouse through his cronies, were later resold to the Delta state government, while the others were sold to other states through contracts awarded to him.

“All supply agreements were signed by one and the same person being Mr. Agbamuche Nelson, traceable to Senator Nwaoboshi. This is in flagrant contravention of section 58(4) (a) and (d) of the Public Procurement Act. No wonder Sen. Nwaoboshi and his cohorts are jittery about the ongoing forensic audit exercise in the NDDC and are doing everything possible to derail it.

“We believe that until Senator Nwaoboshi can absolve himself of his role in the looting of the resources of the Commission, he should step aside from any investigative activity against the Commission. NDDC deserves the freedom to deliver on its mandate”, the statement added.

As of the time of filling this report for publication, Nwaoboshi did not respond to message sent to his mobile phone via WhatsApp after reading same. But BIGPEN, in an earlier report says Nwaoboshi had alleged that Akpabio got NDDC contracts, which he failed to execute in 2017.

He, also tendered documents before reporters in Abuja during a press briefing that in 2017 alone, Akpabio was awarded contracts worth N500million by the NDDC after he asked for them.

He said: “In a letter dated August 7, 2017, addressed to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Akpabio requested that five projects worth N500million be added for him in the NDDC’s budget.

“Akpabio as Minority Leader of the Senate then used his office to include projects not budgeted for in the Appropriation Bill.”

The projects, he said, include fencing of the Federal Polytechnic Ukana, Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District at N200 million.

Others are fencing of Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene (old site) at N100 million and entrepreneurship training on the use of modern farming implements for youths at N75 million in Akwa Ibom.

The rest are entrepreneurship training on the use of modern farming implement for women in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District at the cost of N75 million, and the renovation of one hostel facility at the University of Nsukka, Nsukka Campus, at the cost of N50 million.

“Findings show that while there was no physical evidence of implementation of these projects, the contracts were awarded and fully paid for. Such practices have turned the region to sites of abandoned projects,” Nwaoboshi said.