Tag: Corruption

Akpabio’s Contract Beneficiaries List Genuine- NDDC
Corruption, Crime, Justice, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Akpabio’s Contract Beneficiaries List Genuine- NDDC

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has given credence to the list of contract beneficiaries made public by the Minister of Niger Delta affairs, Godswill Akpabio. The minister had released a list containing names of prominent federal legislators and former governors as beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the NDDDC. Among the lawmakers listed as beneficiaries were:  Chairman of senate committee on NDDC, Peter Nwaoboshi; Matthew Urhoghide, chairman of the senate committee on public accounts; and Orji Uzor Kalu, senate whip. Akpabio also listed James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan, former governors of Delta state as beneficiaries. All the individuals named have rebuffed the claim, accusing the minister of attempting to divert attention from the NDDC probe and tarnishing t...
Edo 2020: Shaibu Claims Oshiomhole Paid Deputy Speaker N40m to Support APC
Corruption, Legislature, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Edo 2020: Shaibu Claims Oshiomhole Paid Deputy Speaker N40m to Support APC

Philip Shaibu, Deputy Governor of Edo State has alleged that deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Yekini Idiaye was paid N40m by the erstwhile National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive (APC), Adams Oshiomhole to support APC candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Shaibu while addressing supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lampese, Akoko-Edo local Government Areas, accused Idiaye who represents Akoko-Edo constituency (I), and the member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency (II), Emmanuel Agbaje, of been paid N40m each to sway their support for Oshiomhole’s preferred candidate, Ize-Iyamu. On Sunday, the deputy speaker and Agbaje announced their support for Ize-Iyamu. The 24 members of the state House of Assembly are of the APC. Shaibu urged the electorates of...
Oshiomhole Attributes Losing APC Chairmanship to Brawl With Bigwigs, Fires Shots at Obaseki
Interview, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Oshiomhole Attributes Losing APC Chairmanship to Brawl With Bigwigs, Fires Shots at Obaseki

His woes were self-inflicted, governor retorts Adams Oshiomhole the ousted National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), has said he stepped on toes of party bigwigs, who in retaliation masterminded his removal. He disclosed this during an interview on Monday with Arise news channel, Morning Show. The immediate past Chairman of the APC said he does not regret his actions as the APC national chairman, adding that he would oppose same forces that orchestrated his removal if given a second chance. He was ousted on June 16 after verdict delivered by a Court of Appeal upheld the verdict of an Abuja High Court that validated his suspension by his ward in Edo State. Oshiomhole’s removal paved the way for leadership tussle in the APC thar witnessed the emergen...
Ethnic Groups in Taraba task Ishaku to Address Injustices
African Development, Corruption, Crime, Economy, Environment, Human Rights, Justice, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Safety, Security, Youths

Ethnic Groups in Taraba task Ishaku to Address Injustices

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has been issued a 30-day ultimatum by four aggrieved ethnic groups in the state to address lingering injustices meted out to them by successive administrations. In a joint world press conference in Jalingo on Saturday, the ethnic groups comprising of the Minute, Fulani, Kuteb and Tiv claimed that successive administrations in the state have subjected them to injustices. Mr Obed Ameh, spokesperson of the group, disclosed that the injustices held sway in chieftancy matters and local government creation. Referencing the stool of Ukwe Takum which has been unoccupied since 1996 after the death of Alhaji Ali Ibrahim, Ameh said the delay in appointing a new Ukwe Takum was a calculated attempt to deny the Kuteb of the stool. He further lamented th...
Protest in Zimbabwe: US Summons Zanu-PF Spokesperson Over Comments
African Development, Corruption, Economy, Human Rights, Justice, News, Safety, Security, Zimbabwe

Protest in Zimbabwe: US Summons Zanu-PF Spokesperson Over Comments

The United states has summoned spokesman of the ruling Zanu-PF party in Zimbabwe after his disparaging comments about the US ambassador in Harare. Patrick Chinamasa, spokesperson of the ruling Zanu-PF party, on Monday labeled US Ambassador Brian Nicholls “a thug” and threatened to expel him. He accused the US envoy of inciting anti-corruption protests in the country. Tibor Nagy, top US diplomat for Africa said, “Comments from Zanu-PF — while sadly not surprising — are deeply offensive.” “We have summoned the ambassador of Zimbabwe to explain,” he wrote on Twitter. The administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been battling with a host of protesters who took to the streets after a call for demonstrations on July 31 in Zimbabwe. In the course of cracking down, the gov...
NDDC Contract: Lawmakers Debunk Akpabio’s Allegation
Corruption, Crime, Economy, Finance, Interview, Justice, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria

NDDC Contract: Lawmakers Debunk Akpabio’s Allegation

Senators mentioned as beneficiaries of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) contracts by Senator Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, have denied the allegation and asked the minister to give account of N81.5 billion spent by the commission instead. Speaking with reporters yesterday, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Chairman of Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs and his forerunner Senator James Manager, said that they were not awarded any contract by NDDC between 2017 and 2019 as alleged by Akpabio. In his reaction, Nwaoboshi dared the minister to submit the list to anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies if he can prove that he was awarded 53 NDDC projects as alleged. Nwaoboshi said, “The unsubstantiated allegation is in line with Mr. Akpabio’s well-known age...
AfDB Corruption Probe: Independent Panel Exonerates Adesina
African Development, Corruption, Economy, Justice, News, Nigeria

AfDB Corruption Probe: Independent Panel Exonerates Adesina

The independent committee inaugurated to examine the report of the Ethics Committee of the Board of Directors on the accusations made by the whistle blowers against the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has cleared the bank’s president of any wrongdoing. The top-class independent review committee headed by Mrs. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, turned in its report on Monday. The panel was inaugurated in July 2 by the Bureau of Governors of the Bank, following a complaint by the United States, to crosscheck the process by which two organs of the Bank – the Ethics Committee of the Board, and the Bureau of the Board of Governors had hitherto cleared Adesina. In the top-class Revie Panel were- Mary Robinson, who is a former President of...
NDDC-gate: Another Gory Exposure of An Ailing Nation
Corruption, Features, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria

NDDC-gate: Another Gory Exposure of An Ailing Nation

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was developed by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in pursuant of a concerted effort at genuinely developing the Niger Delta region which is blessed with natural resources. Nigeria has built its revenue generation around the income generated from crude oil such that sectors like agriculture have been sacrificed on the altar of oil. During the administration of former President Obasanjo, agitation heightened in the Niger Delta due to what they perceived as neglect of the region in spite of its contribution to the treasury of the nation. Youths in the area rose in arms destroying pipelines and vandalizing oil installations to attract the attention to the people of the region who were facing underdevelopment and threat to health due to oil s...
Reps Accuse Akpabio of Distorted Testimony During NDDC Misappropriation Hearing
Corruption, Finance, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Reps Accuse Akpabio of Distorted Testimony During NDDC Misappropriation Hearing

Members of Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber, House of Representative Committee panel probing mismanagement of fund in the Niger Delta Development Commission have faulted Godswill Akpabio, Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs of giving disparaging testimony during hearing. The presiding lawmaker, Honourable Thomas Ereyi-Tobi equally alleged that Akpabio lied under oath during his testimony. The lawmaker said, "I have listened attentively through all your submissions but I just want to tell you one thing, you came here to mislead the parliament and you are under oath. That is what you have done deliberately. "You decided to just come here and mislead the parliament. I want to put it to you that your submission and all the annexures, 8,9,10 and 11 are misleading. "Before then, y...
NDDC Defends Collapse of Acting MD, Pondei at Reps Hearing
Corruption, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria

NDDC Defends Collapse of Acting MD, Pondei at Reps Hearing

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has attributed the collapse of its acting Managing Director, Prof. Keme Pondei, to a medical condition which his doctors have warned him against. Charles Odili, Director, Corporate Affairs said in a statement that Pondei went against the warning of his doctors who had warned him against attending the hearing given his medical condition. Odili said that his state of health had degenerated after two weeks of illness prompting the instruction from his doctors. According to Odili, "The commission wishes to disclose that Prof Pondei has been ill for the past two weeks. This morning, his condition deteriorated, and his doctors advised against attending the hearing. "However, he ignored his doctors’ advice because of the realisation that his ...