The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has accused Delta North Senator, Peter Nwaoboshi, of receiving N3.6billion worth of contracts using 11 companies as fronts.
The NDDC spokesman, Charles Odili, who made this known in a statement described it as the biggest “single case of looting of the Commission’s resources”.
“We believe that until Senator Nwaoboshi can absolve himself of his role in the looting of the resources of the Commission, he should step aside from any investigative activity against the Commission,” the statement reads.
Recall that the Senate has accused the Niger Delta Minister, Godswill Akpabio, of receiving N500million from the NDDC for a fence construction contract while he was serving as a Senator in Akwa Ibom state.
The NDDC however debunked the allegation saying that there was no evidence the commission awarded any contract to Mr Akpabio or any company associated with him.
“From our findings, the person who has questions to answer to the Niger Delta People is Senator Nwaoboshi. Our records show that Senator Nwaoboshi used 11 front companies (owned or traceable to him) to secure a contract of N3.6 billion in September 2016, in what is perhaps the biggest single case of looting of the Commission’s resources,” the statement read in part.
NDDC identified the companies/business names as:
i. Noan Integrated Services;
ii. De Towers Constructions & Allied Services Ltd;
iii. Franstine Nigeria Enterprises;
iv. Edrihide Company;
v. Isumabe U.K. Global;
vi. Benchmark Construction & Allied Services Ltd
vii. Millstone Allied Builders Ltd.;
viii. Nelpat Nigeria Company;
ix. Agh-Rown Ventures;
xi. Edendoma Stars International; and
xii. Antlers Construction and Allied Works Ltd.
The Commission disclosed that the inventory records showed that the items were supplied and received on Senator Nwaoboshi’s business premises and warehouse; however, some of the items supplied to Nwaoboshi’s warehouse through his cronies, were later resold to the Delta State government, while the others were sold to other states through contracts awarded to him.
NDDC revealed that all supply agreements were signed by one and same person, identified as Mr. Agbamuche Nelson, and traceable to Senator Nwaoboshi. “This is in flagrant contravention of section 58(4) (a) and (d) of the Public Procurement Act. No wonder Sen. Nwaoboshi and his cohorts are jittery about the ongoing forensic audit exercise in the NDDC and are doing everything possible to derail it,” the statement indicated.
The commissioner challenged Senator Nwaoboshi to absolve himself of his role in the looting of the resources of the NDDC, demanding that he should step aside from any investigation in the National Assembly against the Commission.
