Posted by Niger Delta Youth Council
The Niger Delta Youth Council Worldwide (NDYC), a Community Based Organization (CBO) that advocates for civil rights and environmental justice in the Niger Delta region has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to immediately arrest, detain and investigate the immediate past acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Engr. Audu Ohwavborua over allegations of gross corruption and abuse of office.
The NDYC in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Engr. Jator Abido and made available to journalists in Abuja, vowed that Engr. Audu must be made to face the wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to others who see the NDDC as their cash cow to milk dry and leave the people of the region to wallow in abject and excruciating poverty.
“It is our position that the immediate past acting Managing Director (MD) of NDDC be arrested, detained and investigated thoroughly for siphoning, embezzling, diverting and squandering large sums of money meant for the development of the Niger Delta region thereby exposing our people to untold hardship and suffering. We therefore call on the EFCC and ICPC to act now to forestall the breakdown of law and order in the region”, the statement noted.
Detailing the systemic corrupt schemes against the former NDDC boss, the NDYC noted that instead of bringing development to the region as contained in the mandate for establishing the Board, the immediate past MD rather took upon himself to engage in contracts racketeering with his cronies including payments for non-existent and uncompleted projects and flagrant disregard for the Procurement Act 2007
According to the statement “Engr. Audu stands accused of gross misappropriation of public funds, payments for uncompleted jobs to him and his associate, upfront payments for non-existent projects, flagrant disregard for the Procurement Act, zero transparency in the accounts and accounting system of the NDDC as well as bogus welfare packages that benefited only the MD and his close pals.
It is also disturbing that up till now, the over publicized forensic audit report of the NDDC has not been made public. We are well aware that more than ₦250 billion worth of abandoned contacts were awarded. It’s appalling that those behind this criminal act are moving about freely while our people are suffering and groaning under the weight of environmental problems and economic neglect. As a group, we have resolved to stand firm for the development of our region and if the law fails us, we will resort to jungle justice to advance our cause”, the statement noted.
It further averred that it was unacceptable that while the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs and the interim administrator of NDDC had instituted a probe, jobs were still awarded to the tune of N250bn and money released.
“It is surprising that contracts can be awarded and money hurriedly released when the ministry and the NDDC interim management claimed to be carrying out investigation. The anti-graft agencies must rise to the occasion to curb the brazing thieving of resources meant for the development of the region”, the statement concluded.