Tag: Corruption - Page 9 - African News Today

NDDC Contract: Lawmakers Debunk Akpabio’s Allegation

28Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

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

28Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

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

21Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

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

20Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

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

20Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

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 ...

Pondei, MD of NDDC, Walks out on Reps, Warrant Issued for his Arrest

16Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Pondei, MD of NDDC, Walks out on Reps, Warrant Issued for his Arrest

Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber, the House of Representatives has issued a warrant of arrest for the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei for staging a walk-out during a house committee hearing on the mismanagement of funds in the commission. The lawmakers ordered the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu to immediately effect his arrest. Pondei had led the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC in a walk-out from the investigative panel when it appeared for the resumption of hearing on the affairs of the commission. Pondei called to question the reputation of the House Committee, claiming that Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Committee Chairman, was corrupt as had profited from award of contracts in the commis...

Ex-NDDC MD, Joy Nunieh, Barred from Leaving Rivers Home by Police Personnel

16Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Breaking News, Corruption, News, Nigeria, Security

Ex-NDDC MD, Joy Nunieh, Barred from Leaving Rivers Home by Police Personnel

Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force on Thursday barricaded the Port Harcourt home of Joy Nunieh, former Acting Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, preventing her from going to the airport. Reports suggest Nunieh was scheduled to meet with Senate committee on NDDC in Abuja today. SaharaReporters reports that a source to her said, "Nunieh just called me now. The police have taken over her house since 4:00am in Port Harcourt. She is expected to testify before the House of Reps today. With a noticeable distress in her voice, she alleged the police broke into her premises and she expected they would take her away soon." Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and Nunieh have both been on the hot seat for alleged misappropriation of N40bn by the Interim Man...

Allegations Against Me are Nonsense- Ibrahim Magu, Suspended EFCC Acting Chairman

16Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Justice, News, Nigeria

Allegations Against Me are Nonsense- Ibrahim Magu, Suspended EFCC Acting Chairman

Suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has dismissed the allegations against him as mere “nonsense”. In an interview with The Nation shortly after he was released from custody, Magu expressed shock when he read the allegations levelled against him. Magu was picked up last week by a combined team of Police and Department of State Security (DSS) in Abuja last week and taken to the presidential villa where he was detained. He appeared before a Presidential panel set up by Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the activities of the EFCC under his watch. Ayo Salami, retired president of the Appeal court is the head of the panel setup to probe Magu. Magu was reported to have said, “They are nonsense. They are mere tru...

Update: Magu Being Held by Presidency, Says Nigerian Police, Denies Detaining Him

15Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Crime, News, Nigeria, Security

Update: Magu Being Held by Presidency, Says Nigerian Police, Denies Detaining Him

The Nigeria Police Force has debunked reports of detaining Ibrahim Magu, ousted Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. This was contained in a letter written to Tosin Ojaomo, counsel to Magu, by DCP Idowu Owohunwa, Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, in reply to Magu’s bail application. The force denied detaining Magu but said he was being ‘held by the Presidency. The letter partly reads, “The Inspector-General directs that your attention be drawn to the fact that the Nigeria Police Force is not investigating Ibrahim Magu and he is accordingly not being detained by the police but by the Presidential Panel that is investigating the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. “The Inspector-General of ...

NDDC N40 Billion Misappropriation, Hushpuppi and Magu’s Issues have Put Nigeria in a Precarious Situation in the International Community- Femi Fani-kayode

14Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, News, Nigeria

NDDC N40 Billion Misappropriation, Hushpuppi and Magu’s Issues have Put Nigeria in a Precarious Situation in the International Community- Femi Fani-kayode

Former minister of Aviation in Nigeria, Femi Fani-kayode has weighed in on the dispute between Joy Nunieh, Former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio. In a post in his official Facebook account, Fani-Kayode defended the integrity of Nunieh while urging both parties to engage in dialogue to settle their differences. His statement came after Nunieh and Akpabio had been engaged in counter accusations after the senate ad hoc committee setup an inquiry over alleged mismanagement of N40 billion by the interim management committee (IMC) of the NDDC. He wrote: I have known Joy Nunieh for many years. She is a very tough cookie and exceptionally intelligent. She is NOT crazy, wayward or flippant. ...