NDDC: Akpabio Names Lawmakers Who Got 158 Contracts

At least seven members of the Senate and House of Representatives were named as alleged beneficiaries of over 158 contracts in the letter written to the upper legislative chamber by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, last week.

The lawmakers allegedly secured the contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which is currently being investigated for alleged misappropriation of N40 billion and N80 billion by the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively.

Akpabio, according to documents seen by Premium Times, mentioned the Chairman of the Senate committee on Niger Delta, Peter Nwabaoshi, and the former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on the NDDC, Nicholas Mutu, to have gotten highest shares.

Nwabaoshi allegedly got 53 contracts, while Mutu got 74.

Others named by the minister were Senator Matthew Urhoghide (6), Senator James Manager (6), and former Senator Samuel Anyanwu (19). The list also identified other lawmakers from Ondo and Edo States.

The revelation came less than a week after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, quoted Akpabio as withdrawing his allegation that federal lawmakers were the biggest beneficiaries of the NDDC contracts.

Akpabio had earlier made the allegation while appearing before a committee of the House investigating alleged irregular expenditures in the commission.

Gbajabimila, during last week Thursday’s plenary, had directed the Clerk of the House to file criminal complaints against the minister for allegedly failing to substantiate his claims against the lawmakers.