NDDC Probe: Remove Akpabio Now – Itse Sagay Tells Buhari

Prof. Itse Sagay, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council Against Corruption (PACAC), has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs over corruption allegations in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The House of Representative Committee on Niger Delta is probing the NDDC for alleged mismanagement of N81 billion by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the commission led by Kemebradikumo Pondei, NDDC acting Managing Director.

Reacting to the development, in an interview with Channels TV, Prof. Sagay called for the removal of the Minister given his alleged “deep” involvement in the corruption allegations.

“If I were the President, if I were in his shoes, and if I was to advice him, I would say dissolve this interim committee, remove the Minister of the Niger Delta because he is neck deep in it and bring in fresh people, probably people who have been properly nominated and then institute a very strict system of monitoring expenditure,” he said.

Sen. Akpabio had at the investigative hearing on Monday claimed that National Assembly members of receiving most of the contracts awarded by the NDDC.

Reacting to the former Akwa Ibom governor’s claims, the PACAC chairman said, “I think it is a very healthy development. The suspicions have been strong for a long time that many lawmakers are not satisfied with their own and they want to do business with government and that they use their influence to acquire contracts in areas they are supposed to be providing supervisions  for. 

“The suspicion has been on for a very long time and some names have been mentioned in the past and they denied. So I think this is a very good opportunity for that issue to be finally settled.

“Once the names are mentioned and spelt out, we would be able to conclude and know those who are compromising their positions as legislators and getting their hands in areas in which they should be providing a cleansing for society but if it is false, they would have cleared their names and their honor and integrity would be restored.”

the House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila Tuesday gave the Minister a 48-hour ultimatum to reveal and publish names of lawmakers whom he alleged received contracts from the commission.