The Senate Public Accounts Committee has summoned the officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission on an alleged contracts scandal worth over N100 billion.
The Committee Chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide relied on special periodic checks on the activities and programmes of the Niger Delta Development Commission for the period 1st January 2013- 30th June, 2018.
Speaking during the committee meeting Senator Urhoghide said that the Committee has invited the NDDC to come and appear before it on Wednesday, Tribune reports.
The Chairman added that the Committee will personalise any refund that is traceable to an individual during the Investigative hearing.
Speaking further, he lamented that it is painful that over N100 billion were spent on contracts in NDDC without justification for the spending.
Urhoghide said: “We have invited NDDC to come , they don’t have records of financial transaction. They will appear before us on Wednesday.
“They have 47 queries and we are going to look at it diligently from 1 to 47 and we are going to personalized any refund. It is painful that N100 billion were spent without justification for it. We equally invite them for status enquiry on all revenue into their accounts.
“We are waiting for the NDDC, if they don’t come, we take necessary action against them.”
Some of the queries read, “It was observed that so many contractors were paid mobilisation fee to enable them to commence the execution of the projects awarded to them.
“Contrary to the terms and agreement some of the contractors bolter away after collection of the mobilisation fees.
“The surprising aspect of it was that this practice involved 626 contractors in which the sum of N61.4 billion was lost to fraudulent practices.
“Irregularities in the execution of contract awarded to SETRACO Nigeria Ltd. for the construction of Gbaregolor- Gbekbot -Ogulagha road phase 1 worth N16.1 billion among others.”
