…N40 Billion Disappears, Jets To
London To Party
Few weeks to the expiration of their
tenure, members of the Board of the
Niger Delta Development Commission,
NDDC, have jetted out of the country
to England after allegedly looting the
treasury, awarding contracts to
themselves for the procurement of
Fire trucks to the tune of N999.5
Million to each.
This is even as another allegation
surfaced that while over N40 Billion of
the Commission funds have not been
accounted for, the Managing Director,
Dr. Chris Oboh commenced payment
for over 135 contracts he awarded to
himself that are yet to be executed.
Under the law, the NDDC cannot
award contracts exceeding N1 Billion
without seeking the approval of the
Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP.
But the Board members allegedly split
the contracts, awarding it to
themselves for N999.5 Million to beat
the BPP. They have allegedly jetted out
to London to process the payments
through the offshore account of the
NDDC and organize a end of tenure
party, a petition sent to President
Goodluck Jonathan alleges.
The petition sent to President
Goodluck Jonathan alleged that about
400 projects have been awarded in
advance and payments being
processed to beat the expiration of
the current board tenure.
The petition signed by: Prof. Tari
WilsonEze, (Dr.) Nnamdi Dike-Ubani,
Mr. Pascal ChinwoObong, (Engr.)
Udoette Iniobong Effiong, Chief. Koko
Ngeribara,
Dr. Kewe Osiebe Mrs. Lorrieta
Osadebe and Deacon. Precious Hart
reads:
“The anti-corruption campaign of the
Goodluck Jonathan administration is a
shameful gospel that must never be
preached. The extent of impunity
displayed by public officers appointed
by the president has been to say the
least, extreme. The crass corruption of
the members of the board of the
Niger Delta Development Commission
is shameful, and it is the most
embarrassingly soiled chevron on the
president’s insignia.
“The board of the Niger Delta
Development Commission has in the
last six weeks commenced the full
blown looting of the commission. Only
last week on June 18, 2013, each
board member was awarded a supply
job worth N1billion as severance
package and they have been paid 100
per cent upfront (not 15% as
prescribed by the procurement act).
“These projects were secretly awarded
and did not go through any due
process. Amongst the equipment
procured under the emergency
procurement provision are 40 fire
trucks, which will be distributed to the
states on delivery. This secret payment
was effected through the NDDC
foreign account .
“Apart from that, about 400 additional
projects have been awarded in
advance by the current board from
the 2013 budget (which is yet to be
appropriated and released by the
national assembly).
“Sadly, hundreds of projects remain
stalled and unpaid for. Over 200
completed projects are lying on the
Managing Director’s table unpaid.
These projects were shoved aside to
create room and funds to
accommodate the massive looting
which is on-going in the commission
presently. The Managing Director has
told contractors that they should take
their non-payment query to the
president who has bluntly refused to
release monies owed the commission.
“Your Excellency, the 2013 budget is
yet to be passed but as at the 3rd day
of June 2013, over 200 projects have
been awarded from the line items and
non-line budgetary components of
the 2013 budget tagged – Corporate
Social Responsibility budget.
The implication of this act of sabotage
is that though the 2013 budget has
not been passed, the existing board
has already enormously encumbered
the budget with funds meant to be for
the payment for on-going projects,
especially the completed ones for
which contractors borrowed monies
from banks to execute.
“Under the current board expected to
vacate office in a couple of weeks,
about 2500 projects have been
awarded. This surpasses the total
number of projects awarded by
previous boards in the last 5 years.
“Also very worrisome is the fact that
the Managing Director is currently
making full payments for his over 135
contracts awarded to himself fully
even when the contractors are yet to
move to site. This is made possible by
the Managing Director’s point man
and kinsman, the Director Project
Monitoring and Supervision who he
recently placed in that position to pave
way for massive looting.
“Finally, as we write this petition to the
president, all key members of the
board of the Niger Delta Development
Commission have embarked on a trip
to the United Kingdom for a party,
after which they plan to share their
severance loot – an event they have
called ‘final empowerment’, as
payments instructions will be made to
the bank and delivered by hand by
the Managing Director.
“Over 40 billion naira in the
commission as at present has not
been accounted for; even the
offshore accounts of the
commission have been carelessly
transferred to private accounts.
We are surprised that the
President is not aware of this and
nothing has been done so far to
check these fraudulent acts.
“Mr. President, the Region is yet to
feel the impact of the NDDC under
your leadership. The agency under
the leadership of Dr. Chris Oboh has
been a huge disappointment and
colossal failure. The crass
incompetence of the Chairman and
members of the board has been a
rude slap on the scarred face of our
people, and immediate steps must be
taken to address the unbelievable
poverty ravishing the land.”
“While some people close to you
continue to quietly abet this
corruption, it is important to note the
sad role of the office of the Secretary
to the Government of the Federation,
the Bureau of Public Procurement
(BPP) and some national assembly
members and aides to the President in
this sordid mess. Senator Pius Anyim
and Engr. Emeka Eze have showed a
severe level of indifference in the
overall performance of this board,
and the reason is clear. They have
become the biggest contractors of the
commission, fronting aides for several
multi-billion contracts. We have all the
details.
“After almost 18 months of this
impotent team, no major project –
road, water or electricity projects were
completed or commissioned.
Contractors have abandoned almost
all sites because the commission in
the last eight months have only been
paying for projects belonging to board
members. It is shameful that only
about 24 nos 1km roads and few
other projects have been completed
during their tenure. The performance
statistics has been terrible:
Awarded projects
4,204
Awarded by this board
2,350
Major projects completed (1bn and
above)
0
Minor projects completed by this
board
24
Ongoing but stagnated for lack of
payment
890
Stalled
1,145
Abandoned
1,056
Our prayers are as follows:
1. The immediate sack of Engr. Emeka
Eze the grand conspirator and
launderer of the evil perpetuated by
the current board of the Niger Delta
Development Commission.
2. The accelerated removal or
dismissal of the board led Dr. Tarila
Tebipah and Dr. Chris Oboh. Any
extra day saved the Region is a bliss.
3. The immediate cancellation of new
projects awarded by the board of the
Niger Delta Development Commission
from late 2012 and the CSR
component of the 2013 budget which
has not been passed into law.
4. An immediate order to probe all
contracts awarded and payments
made by the this board since their
inception till date.
5. A public enquiry to probe the board
on it performance.
6. The immediate payment of all
contractors whose payment invoices
(IPC’s) have been lying on the MD’s
table for several months in careless
non-adherence to the provisions of
the procurement act which states that
payment invoices or IPC’s must not be
delayed for more than 8 weeks from
the date of submission of invoice.
Mr. President our final plea is that you
show more concern and get involved
in the affairs of the Region. Hand pick
the board of the NDDC yourself and
do not rely on political associates or
party affiliates. Whatever process that
produced this board is complete
hazard and must not be repeated.
Long Live Mr. President; Long Live the
Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Signed:
Prof. Tari Wilson
Eze (Dr.) Nnamdi Dike-Ubani
Mr. Pascal Chinwo
Obong (Engr.) Udoette Iniobong
Effiong
Chief. Koko Ngeribara
Dr. Kewe Osiebe
Mrs. Lorrieta Osadebe
Deacon. Precious Hart
Source:pointblanknews.com/pbn/exclusive/massive-looting-in-nddc-as-board-members-get-n999-5-million-contract-each/

creek people sha. Obasanjo..........................................i rest my case.

where we go start to repair in dis country.,,,God help us

Wonderful e pass wonder.

These looters are the real enemy of Niger Deltans.

And i keep hearing that Northerners r d only problem of Nigeria!!! Dat d day dis country breaks ups, d south would b haven on earth. Haven on earth indeed.

And d pple telling r telling cos d no get anything from d deal.

Let us blame Buhari and APC!

Gbawe: These looters are the real enemy of Niger Deltans.

Enemy ke? The Aborigines Union (Asari-Dokubo, Clark, Kuku etc) say that the enemies are Tinubu & Buhari.