The upper chamber of the National Assembly has summoned the officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over a contracts scandal worth more than N100 billion.
The Senate also noted that 626 contractors bolted away after collecting mobilization fees of about N61.4 billion.
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts Chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, relied on special periodic checks on the activities and programmed of Niger Delta Development Commission for the period of 1st January 2013- 30th June 2018.
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Speaking during the committee meeting, Senator Urhoghide said that the Committee has invited the NDDC to appear on Wednesday, adding that the Committee will personalized any refund that is traceable to an individual during the Investigative hearing.
The lawmaker lamented that it is painful that over N100 billion was 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 transactions. They will appear before us on Wednesday.
“They have 47 queries and we are going to look at the issues 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 inquiry on all revenue into their accounts.
“We are waiting for the NDDC, if they don’t come, we will take necessary action against them.”
Some of the queries read: “It was observed that so many contractors were paid mobilization fee to enable them to commence the execution of the projects awarded to them.
“Contrary to the terms and agreement, some of the contractors bolted away after collection of the mobilization 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 a contract awarded to SETRACO Nigeria Ltd. for the construction of Gbaregolor-Gbekbot-Ogulagha road phase worth N16.1 billion.”
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