Niger Delta | African News Today

SERAP Issues Buhari 14-Day Ultimatum To Publish Names of Suspected Looters Of N6Trillion Niger Delta Funds

26Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Finance, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria

SERAP Issues Buhari 14-Day Ultimatum To Publish Names of Suspected Looters Of N6Trillion Niger Delta Funds

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN to widely publish the names of those indicted in the alleged misappropriation of over N6 trillion in the running of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) between 2000 and 2019, as documented in the recent Forensic Audit Report on NDDC”. This was contained in an open letter signed by SERAP's deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare. The organisation urged Buhari to direct Malami and other appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly bring to justice, anyone suspected to be responsible for the missing N6 trillion and to fully recover any misappropriated public funds. According to SERAP,...

NDDC Issues Senator Two weeks Ultimatum to Refund N2.5bn for Failed Contracts

8Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Crime, Economy, Education, Finance, Judiciary, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Press Statement

NDDC Issues Senator Two weeks Ultimatum to Refund N2.5bn for Failed Contracts

Case pending before two courts, letter has not reached me – Nwaoboshi The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has hit back at the Nigerian Senate, asking Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger-Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, to refund N2.5n for contracts his companies failed to deliver. The commission failed to mention the names of the concerned firms in the letter written to the lawmaker. The commission gave Nwaoboshi a two weeks ultimatum to refund the funds to its account. NDDC in a letter signed by the Director, Legal Services, Peter Okoro, dated July 5 asked Nwaoboshi to return to its coffers fund earmarked for the supply of plastic chairs and desks for primary and secondary schools in the Niger Delta region in 2017. The letter read, “Instead of supplying the cha...

Akpabio’s Contract Beneficiaries List Genuine- NDDC

5Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

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...

Buhari Reacts to NDDC, EFCC Probes, says it’s an Abuse of trust

1Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

African Development, Corruption, Crime, Economy, Finance, Human Rights, Interview, Judiciary, Justice, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Press Statement, Religion

Buhari Reacts to NDDC, EFCC Probes, says it’s an Abuse of trust

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday reacted to corruption allegations rocking the Niger Delta Development Commission and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He said that some of his appointees have betrayed the trust reposed in them. The president disclosed this in a chat with reporters after observing Eid Mubarak prayers at the forecourt of the presidential villa. He said, “There has been abuse of trust by people trusted by previous administration and this administration.” Ibrahim Magu, suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has being quizzed by a presidential panel over allegations of corruption and abuse of power. The interim management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) led by Kemebradikumo D...

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 ...

Nigeria: Angry Youths Disrupt Oil Production As Akwa Ibom Crisis Takes Toll On American Oil Major

29Nov

By Akanimo SampsonNo Comments

Economy, News, Nigeria

Nigeria: Angry Youths Disrupt Oil Production As Akwa Ibom Crisis Takes Toll On American Oil Major

The unfolding political crisis in Akwa Ibom State, one of the big oil states in Southern Nigeria that has been relatively very peaceful till the advent of a seeming czarist regime in 2007, could trigger off some dangerous economic consequences for Nigeria if not contained urgently. Though what is playing out in the state is being stoked by a few political demi-gods masking as the face of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari’s party, the crisis has no ideological basis other than incurable personal greed for accumulation of the common patrimony. From 1999 when the current democracy came into, political gangsterism was alien to the peoples of Akwa Ibom. But a club and dagger politics was foisted on the state when Obong Victor Attah left office in 2007. The po...

Nigeria: As Buhari Engages Big Oil Firms On PIGB, Concerns Are Growing In Niger Delta

15Nov

By Akanimo SampsonNo Comments

Economy, News, Nigeria, Security

Nigeria: As Buhari Engages Big Oil Firms On PIGB, Concerns Are Growing In Niger Delta

Ahead of the 2019 general elections coming up in a matter of weeks, there are disturbing concerns in the Niger Delta, Nigeria's main oil and gas basin, as the restive circles are considering to return to the creeks to halt continued oil production if Abuja fails to play ball. Before now, President Muhammadu Buhari's administration was said to be locked in a backstage consultation with oil industry operators in the country on the new Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) which the Legislative arm of the Federal Government passed and communicated to him for his signature. The outcome of the secret parley is not yet public. But, it will determine whether President Buhari will sign the bill into law. Presidential Villa insiders say there is a political mileage to be gained by the All...