NDDC: Ijaw Leaders Warn EFCC Against Diversion of Funds |The Source

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Several millions of dollars belonging to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC may be diverted, Ijaws in the Niger Delta have said, warning that any plan to further steal what rightfully belongs to the oil producing areas, will be resisted.

“We shall resist every force against our development, even in the midst of persecution, relegation and oppression, as we have resolved to occupy the streets of the Niger Delta to disrupt the operation of the IOC’s and their facilities until such perceived broad daylight manoeuvring of funds is stopped,” some Ijaw leaders declared on Sunday.

Following the forensic audit of the account of the NDDC, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed earlier in the year that remittances from international oil companies, IOC, be paid into the account of the anti-graft agency until ongoing investigation was completed.

The funds, said to be running into several millions of dollars have been paid into EFCC account in the last six to eight months, according to the concerned people of the oil bearing states who said the huge funds could be diverted if not well monitored by the federal government.

This concern was raised by the National Coordinator of Ijaw Interest Advocate otherwise known as Izanzan camp, Arerebo Yerinmene and the Chairman Emeritus of Ijaw Youth Congress, Eastern Zone and National President of Patriotic Ijaw Youth Leaders, Sir Sammy Gorge, who said funds meant for the development of the Niger Delta were being diverted.

The advocacy groups called on the President Muhammadu to investigate the issue and stop the injustice against the people of Niger Delta region.

Failure to do this, will be met with violence, the leaders said, insisting that they are not prepared to watch while the people of the area were being impoverished.

Vowing to take the destiny of the region in their hands, the Ijaw groups declared that they will not “allow anybody, for any reason whatsoever, to impoverish us further and any further attempt to loot the commonwealth of our people, we shall resort to occupying the streets of the Niger Delta.

Still battling to clear their names of corruption allegation, the NDDC management has remained in the eye of the storm following reports, last week, that the interventionist agency, has purchased vehicles for auditors employed by the federal government to look into it books.