Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, the Managing Director, Interim Management Committee (IMC) of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has shunned the House of Representatives committee investigative hearing into the N139.317 billion misappropriated between 2013 and 2018.
Rep Wale Oke, Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, announced the absence of the NDDC boss at the scheduled hearing on Wednesday in Abuja.
The committee however resolved to adjourn sitting to Oct 29, adding that his absence might not be unconnected with the recent violence in the country.
Gfhnews reports that the Auditor General of the Federation, Mr Anthony Ayine had issued query to the NDCC boss asking him to proffer answer to some of the point raised in the query.
The details of the queries were contained in the 96 page special periodic checks on the activities and programmes on NDDC from 1st Jan 2013 to 30th June, 2018.
According to the report, the 626 contractors engaged by the commission for the execution of contracts worth N309,172,941,001.86, received total sum of as mobilization fees worth N61,468,160,743.03.
“The projects were in Abia, 32, Akwa Ibom, 64 projects, Bayelsa, 80, Cross River 29, Delta 99, Edo 51, Imo 33, Ondo 50, Rivers 106, and 82 other regional projects.
Some of the queries also include: waste of public fund due to collection of mobilisation fees without reporting to project sites by contractors, irregularities in the contract for completion of NDDC headquarters building, Port Harcourt – Others are; Irregularities in the execution of contract awarded to Messrs Setraco Nigeria Ltd for the construction of Gbaregolor-Gbekbor-Ogulagha road phase, unauthorised revision and variation of contract sum without due process among others.
Ayina in his recommendations, the stated that the sum of N61,468,160,743.03 should be recovered from the 626 contractors in line with Financial Regulation No. 3104 This according to him provides that under no circumstances should payments be made for job not executed and any amount involved shall be recovered from the said contractor.
He added that such shall be blacklisted and referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for prosecution.
