Breaking: Akpabio Shocks Probe Panel, Says Most NDDC Contracts Done By NASS Members |The Source

By Adesina Soyooye

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, ruffled feathers Monday, when he disclosed that most contracts at the NDDC, were done by National Assembly members.

Akpabio revealed this while testifying before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating allegations of reckless spending and corruption in the  Niger Delta Development Commission.

Tackled by a female member of the Committee to explain, Akpabio responded in the affirmative, saying the member may not know.

He also added that he was a member of the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta, prompting the Honourable member to ask him how many contracts he collected from the NDDC as a Senator. When he denied, the obviously angry member asked him how he dared make such allegations against others

Earlier, the Committee had tackled Akpabio over his alleged interference in the running of the NDDC, and the removal of files from the offices of the Commission without the knowledge of the M.D. He struggled to answer.

He ,also, insisted that he removed the former MD, Barr. Joi Nunieh, over insubordination, alleging that a number of times she refused to attend scheduled meetings.

The former MD had alleged that she stopped attending over the Minister’s sexual harassment.

The investigation  started with drama when the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Olubumi Tunji-Ojo, stood down from presiding over the business of the day. Even though he had the confidence of the members, he stood down over the refusal of the M.D., Prof  Kemebradikumo Pondei  to testify last week, insisting that Tunji-Ojo was an interested party in the probe.

The most notable drama was when Pondei collapsed, and was rushed out, 45 minutes into his grilling.

The Committee has adjourned indefinitely.