NDDC MD denies N21.9bn fund diversion allegation

MANAGING Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Nsima Ekere, has denied an allegation that he has diverted the commission’s fund, amounting to N21.9 billion, to fund his governorship ambition.

An online medium (name undisclosed) had, in its report, titled “N21.9bn Akwa Ibom NDDC Office Fund Disappeared, Project Abandoned”, alleged that Ekere diverted the said amount for his personal use.

It further alleged that project, which the foundation stone was laid some two years ago, had been abandoned, adding that its site had been taken over by reptiles.

However, the commission, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Head, Corporate Affairs, Dr Ibitoye Abosede, denied the report, saying it was written: “By a faceless hack in the obvious employment of mischievous, dubious characters.”

The interventionist said the report was a criminal lie and actionable, adding that, while it was its usual practice to dignify such a report with a response, it felt the need to put the fact straight for the public to know and understand the truth.

Abosede described NDDC as a responsible and responsive organisation “under a Governing Board peopled by very responsible Nigerians, with clear protocols for the administration and implementation of projects and programmes.”

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Laying bare the facts, he said the foundation laying ceremony for the project was laid only on July 20, 2018, and not two years ago, as claimed by the report.

He further said: “The project was awarded to Messrs Brett Integrated Investment Limited (and not Brett Nigeria Limited) at the contract value of N1,061,012,796.22, and not at N21.9bn, as falsely reported.

“The contractors have been at site working. A visit to the site will reveal that materials are on site, iron works fabricated and over 10,000 blocks moulded, which would take the project to its first milestone within one month, as assured by the contractors. Only last week, more materials were deposited at the site.

“That the account for the project, opened by the contractors with First Bank of Nigeria Plc, is secured by an Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) where all monies are deposited. It cannot be possible therefore within the law to divert the funds as fraudulently reported. This can be easily verified with the bank.

“It is indeed important to note that the commission, desirous to see the judicious and expeditious completion of this project, as it is our practice with all our projects and programmes, on August 20, 2018, wrote a letter, signed by the Commission’s Director, Project Monitoring and Supervision, Dr Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, directing First Bank to release funds to the contractors to enable them discharge their duties to the project and the commission.

“The letter reads in part: ‘Please note that your continued denial of the contractor access to funds deposited in your bank by the commission will be seen as a deliberate effort to frustrate our project.”

Abosede, therefore, said NDDC would no longer sit back and watch criminal journalism as attempts to tarnish what it described as its corporate image and attempts to detract us from the onerous task of developing the Niger Delta region.

“All too often, we have been exposed to constant, vicious and virulent attacks, deliberate distortions, falsehood and open confrontation, driven by political scheming and it often comes from a certain section of the region.

“As the commission has often stated, NDDC, as an intervention agency, is not in competition with any of the nine state governments of the Niger Delta region. Our mandates are different but equally important and desperately urgent.

“We ask that the commission and its representatives be allowed to focus on our duty to develop the region. We believe that there is no reason to poison the chalice because our people drink from it,” he added.