NDDC: ‘Nigerians losing faith in Buhari’s commitment to fighting corruption’

Niger Delta Development and Accountability Coalition said Nigerians are losing faith in the anticorruption fight of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The group disclosed this in a statement signed by National Chairman Comrade Johnson Epia.

It said: “Based on the revelations of massive fraud, financial recklessness and mismanagement at the NDDC by the Interim Management Committee appointed by Akpabio, the National Assembly (NASS) set up Committees to probe the allegations that billions of naira has been fleeced by the IMC, without following due process, Daily Times gathered.

What came out of the investigations by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees showed clearly that the IMC has been presiding over a criminal enterprise at the NDDC in the last few months where over N81.5 billion cannot be satisfactorily accounted for.

“Following the submission of a 122-page report on the investigation by its Adhoc Committee, the Senate adopted the report, including wide-ranging recommendations, which indicted the IMC and demanded that the members refund N4.923 billion naira, demanded the dissolution of the IMC, and the Inauguration of the governing board to run the Commission in compliance with the NDDC Act, among others.

“What baffles Nigerians is that despite the confessions of the IMC at the Public Hearing to mismanaging the NDDC finances, the Senate indictment of the IMC and other Senate resolutions on the NDDC investigation, the president has done nothing with respect to the Senate Resolutions and to distance his administration from the Akpabio criminal enterprise at the NDDC.”

The group said further: “This inaction by the Buhari administration has forced some NGOs to submit a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the prosecution of Akpabio and the IMC members, what it ordinarily should do without prompting.

“This position by the NGOs became necessary because of the perception that the federal government seems to be inured to the humongous Corruption, Financial recklessness and mismanagement orchestrated by Akpabio and the IMC in the last few months.

Indeed, it appears that the Buhari administration is looking for any excuse to absolve its own tainted officials of corruption, including sweeping the Senate Report and Resolutions under the carpet.

“Else, why has the Buhari administration not acted on the embarrassing IMC Corruption at the NDDC?

And how is it that Akpabio is even boasting that nothing will be done to him and the IMC, even assuring the members of the IMC to continue in their corruption and profligacy, which they have been doing since the Senate passed its resolutions on July 23.”

The group added: “President Buhari cannot afford to remain silent in the face of the ongoing scam at the NDDC, and the Senate Resolutions.

He must do his duty to Nigerians and lead when he has to, which is now.

Mr President must define very clearly if his legacy will be one of comfort with, not contempt for, Corruption.

“He cannot sit by the side and allow Corruption to thrive in our country, while his officials steal public resources.

The President must demand the refund of all stolen funds, the sack of the IMC, the prosecution of Akpabio and all those indicted by the Senate in the looting of the NDDC under the IMC. He should bring accountability to the NDDC by implementing the Senate resolutions.

READ ALSO: ‘NDDC’s IMC admitted guilt’

“Niger Deltans and indeed Nigerians are sick and tired of the current lethargy where Corruption seems to be the order of the day for the Administration, which has made Nigerians the laughing stock all over the world.

President Buhari must not overlook the Corruption going on at the NDDC under the watch of Akpabio and his IMC, the buck stops on his desk!”