The anti-corruption fight by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led
government may just be getting a new-improved dimension. This is lent
weight to by a big discovery of the huge amount of money at one of the
country’s agencies.
Following alleged pilfering of over N150billion by top officers of Niger
Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), the anti-graft agency, Independent
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is
already investigating the matter, which has fingered substantial
contracts awarded by former directors of the commission.
Investigations have shown that four principal directors of the
commission, allegedly collided to award themselves contracts worth over
N150billion, of which payment of N5billion was being paid every week, in
the last three years for contracts awarded by the agency.
Four principal directors have already been invited by the ICPC for
questioning and these officers include have indicted the former MD,
Nsima Ekere, former ED Finance, and Chief of Staff to the MD, who are
touted to be culprits behind the deal, even as the humongous amount was
believed to have been siphoned through Monogamy.
As the story goes, Mr. Ukeme Nkamare, Director, Design Department, who
is still in service, has also been invited for questioning, as to his
connection with the looted funds. The matter of monumental dimension is
already at the notice of the Presidency, and the President has
consequently ordered the ICPC chairman to get to the root of the matter
and prosecute the all culpable offenders.
It is instructive to add here that no matter how close these officers
are to the corridors of power, the matter should be seen to a logical
conclusion, to serve as a punitive lesson to those who might have other
tendencies.
As at press time, sources close to the agency investigating the matter
hinted that findings have shown that the looted funds have increased
into a staggering sum of N193billion, as the agency continues with
thorough investigations.
According to sources at the anti-graft agency, ICPC quoted that ‘this is
direct stealing and had never happened before in the history of NDDC, to
withdraw N5billion every week for three years without being dictated, in
a row; it is serious looting, and a daylight robbery’ source stated.
Staffers at the commission are wondering that even the immediate past
MD/CEO of the commission, Bassy Dan-Abia came with a softer approach to
milking NDDC, but Nsima Ekere came with a subterfuge manner to
circumvent all funds accruing to the commission, and this is why all
eyes are on theses alleged government looters.