A Civil Society Organization, Act for Positive
Transformation Initiative (ACTI) has alleged that the Interim Management
Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has awarded a
contract of N4,861,354,250.00 for COVID-19 test kits without due process.
In a statement by the organization’s head, Directorate of
Research, and Programmes, Mr Kolawole Johnson on Wednesday in Abuja, they said
the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC returned the agency to its era of
looting, which in turn prompted President Buhari to order a forensic audit of
their activities a few months ago.
The organization specifically accused the Director of
Project of the NDDC, Dr. Cairo Ojugboh of lying on national television when he
feigned ignorance of such contracts, even the evidence abounds.
The CSO wrote:
“President Muhammadu Buhari, out of concern for the people
of the Niger Delta region, appointed an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to
clean the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), conduct forensic audit and
make it more responsive to the people.
“Sunday, 26th of April, 2020, Nigerians watched a member of
the Interim Management Committee, the Director of Project, Dr Cairo Ojugboh, on
Channels Television struggling hard to defend grisly allegations of corruption
steamrolled on the Commission.
“Our organization, Act for Positive Transformation
Initiative has fact-checked many of his claims and found them to be, at best,
dishonourable mendacities and concealed lies.
“First, Dr Cairo claimed the contract has not been awarded
for any intervention on COVID-19. This is falsehood. Contracts were indeed
awarded on the 6th of April, 2020.
“Also, Cairo claimed he is not familiar with a company
called Osmoserve. He lied. Osmoserve got the largest share of the self-serving
COVID-19 intervention contract amounting to N4,861,354,250.00 and received
mobilization more than one week before the TV program.
The CSO insisted that Osmoserve was one of a self-serving
company that was party to previous phoney contracts, wondering how such a
discredited enterprise was being patronized this time.
“Sadly, Osmoserve Global Ltd should be under a stern
flashlight of the forensic probe, having benefitted more than any other company
in recent years in numerous emergency projects that brought the commission to
its knees, yet the Interim Management made the same company its looting agent.
“After Osmoserve’s fraudulent contract award, official
documents show that about four other companies were awarded COVID-19 related
contracts and payments approved the same date except for a company that
objected to unofficial terms advanced by the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta
Affairs.
“The companies are AHR Global Standard Services Ltd (Batch
no: 13662 & Vat no: 13664), awarded emergency procurement of social relief
packs.
“Julius Dinga Nigeria Ltd (Batch no: 13656 & Vat no:
13658), awarded a contract for emergency consultancy for the provision of
publicity on the prevention of the spread of coronavirus across the nine Niger
Delta states. Tables and Buildings Nigeria Ltd (Batch no: 13659 & Vat no:
13660).
“For Osmoserve Global Ltd, an award was given for emergency
supply and delivery of medical equipment and consumables to the NDDC warehouse.
“In the characteristic style of the present IMC, supply
details and specifications are always not indicated in the award letter to
frustrate the performance audit process.
“The letter of contract award claimed the medical equipment
was meant for testing, treatment and care of COVID-19 cases.
“Transaction was initiated by Mr Effiong Henry, approved the
same date by the Executive Director, Finance & Administration, Ibanga
Basset Etang and got the final payment approval of the Acting MD, Prof
Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, within half an hour, precisely on the 15th of
April, 2020.
“The sum of Seven Hundred and Twenty-Nine Million, Two
Hundred and Three Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty-Seven Naira, Fifty Kobo
(729,203,137.50) was treated for payment.
“For verification, the details of the transaction from the
TSA account are as follow: Batch no: 13593, Vat no: 13595 and Withholding Tax
no: 13594. This can be verified by anyone.
“We hope the anti-corruption agencies will commence action
immediately; we have made the job much easier by providing far-reaching
details.
“Of note is the open confession of Dr Cairo that
Presidential approval for the COVID-19 intervention projects would be
communicated officially to the commission on Monday, 27th, April 2020.
“The implication is simple: the fraudulent management acted
illegally in flagrant defiance to the Fiscal Responsibility Act, since
contracts were awarded and money paid without lawful approval.
“This further exposes the level of desperation to loot the commission
as the purported request for approval was sent to the President in retrospect.
“For every payment made, we have it on good authority that a
topmost kingpin collects kickbacks ranging from 30 to 45 percent, depending on
the status of the contract.
“For the past six months, it has been widely alleged that
the Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godwill Akpabio, has been using the
forensic audit as a smokescreen to mop up the account of the agency.
“Nigerians should also note, the commission has squandered
over Forty- Nine Billion naira ( $49B) in illegal payments in the last two
months, most of which are in defiance to the Public Procurement Act yet Dr
Cairo claimed the present Interim Management Committee is yet to award any
contract.
“Today, dead fishes litter the Niger Delta coastline due to
toxic releases of oil processing companies. The avenue for subsisting income
for indigents has been wiped off which may lead to severe widespread hunger in
the land.
“Shall we close our eyes to this mad fleece while people die
in suffering?
“While the public space is awash with several allegations of
corruption against the management, the All Progressive Congress, through its
Deputy National Publicity Secretary, rose in cover for the Commission.
“Whereas it irresponsibly shows the Party is not on the same
page with Mr President on his anti-corruption war, it will, nonetheless, be
criminal to find it as an active group player in the ongoing looting of the
NDDC.
They called on anti-graft agencies to wade into the
activities of NDDC before things got out of hands.
“We call on the anti-corruption agencies to rise to the
occasion to save whatever is left in the account of the commission.
“This serves as an SOS call to the National Assembly to act
in the interest of the people. The time is now. The commission, as presently
constituted, is like a rotten mackerel by moonlight, it shines and stinks.
“We call on The Ministry of Finance, CBN and the Accountant
General Office to make public all NDDC transactions from the TSA account in the
last two months.
When our correspondent called on the Spokesperson of the
NDDC, Mr. Isene Ibanga, he neither picked his calls nor responded to text
messages.
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