ICPC Charges NDDC Boss, Nsima Ekere, For Frustrating Project Investigation

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has filed a charge against the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nsima Ekere, for allegedly frustrating its investigation.

The charge marked: CR/187/18 was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and signed by a senior prosecuting officer with ICPC, Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha.

The ICPC, in the two-count charge with, NDDC and Ekere listed as defendants, accused Ekere of frustrating its investigation into some projects executed by the NDDC.

Particularly, ICPC accused Ekere of refusing to honour invitation/ request for documents on the construction of Umuihe-Odo-Umuanya Road, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State.

The Nation learnt yesterday, that although the charge has been assigned to a judge of the court, a date is yet to be fixed for arraignment.

The charge reads: That you Mr. Nsima U. Ekere Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), sometime in the month of March 2017 or thereabout, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court wilfully refused to honour a lawful invitation/request for document through a letter reference lCPC/ CH/ CSU.MS/170/ 2017, dated March 9. 2017 and received on March 16. 2017 by the independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in respect of investigation activities on the project file(s) on the construction of Umuihe-Odo-Umuanya Road, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State and you thereby commuted an offence contrary to and punishable under section 28(10) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act. 2000.

“That you Mr Nsima U. Ekere Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Niger Delta Development Commission, sometime in the month of March 2017 or thereabout, within the Jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired to frustrate investigation activities of the Commission (ICPC) by wilfully refusing to honour lawful invitation/request for document through a letter reference ICPC/CH//CSU, MS/170/2017 dated March 9, 2017 and received on March 16, 2017 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) in respect of investigation activities on the project file(s) on Umuihe-Odo-Umuanya Road, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State and you thereby commuted an offence contrary to Section 20(c) and punishable under Section 15(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act. 2000.

Source: www.9jaecho.com