The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has reportedly linked some Federal Lawmakers to some contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, as he earlier alleged,
The former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on the NDDC, Nicholas Mutu, who represents Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency, of Delta State, is among those linked by the Minister with contracts awarded by the NDDC.
Akpabio listed Mutu’s name against 74 projects, including various emergency road projects in Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Rivers States.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on February 3, 2020, arraigned Mutu before Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo, of the Federal High Court in Abuja, for alleged abuse of Office, and fraud involving about N320 million.
Akpabio also linked the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta-North), with 53 projects, which included emergency repairs of Asue Street, Owa Phase 2; ldumuogbe Road via Ojemaye; Otolokpo College Road, Otolokpo; and the Police lshu Ani Ukwu Road, Issele Uku.
Other Lawmakers that Akpabio listed projects against are Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo-South), 6; James Manager (Delta-South), 6; Samuel Anyanwu (Imo-West, 8th Senate), 19; and others are simply identified as Ondo and Edo Reps.
The Minister, however, did not provide the cost of the projects listed against the Lawmakers’ names, while the cost of contracts given to non-Lawmakers had costs of various projects attached to them.
It was also observed that the contracts listed against the names of the Lawmakers were not up to 60 percent of the 266 on the list provided by Akpabio.
Non-National Assembly members are also on the list.
It was further observed that the Minister copied to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
The House of Representatives, through the Speaker, had on Thursday, resolved to sue Akpabio, for alleged perjury and defamation of the Legislature, for failing to meet its 48-hours ultimatum given to him to provide the names of the Federal Lawmakers he had alleged were awarded most of the NDDC contracts.