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LequteMan
Guest
A multibillion naira corruption scandal has been uncovered at the Niger Delta Development Commission, Premium Times reports.
Documents show that the board and management of the commission violated a directive by former President Goodluck Jonathan on probity and accountable handling of funds.
Mr. Jonathan had on December 16, 2013, while inaugurating the Bassey Ewa Henshaw-led board at the Aso Rock Villa, cautioned against the award of fresh contracts until all ongoing ones are completed.
However, two weeks after it was inaugurated, the commission awarded a curious contract for what it called intelligence gathering, management and mitigation in all the senatorial districts in the nine states within the region.
To circumvent the Public Procurement Act 2007, the commission was said to have split the job into 30 lots and awarded to political gladiators and cronies of board members and top management staff.
A total of N2.7billion was doled out to 30 companies for the contracts, described as spurious by some insiders.
There are unconfirmed claims that some of the firms that benefited from the contracts are not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as prescribed by the Nigerian Companies and Allied Matters Act.
In each of the nine catchment states, a total N299.2million was spent on the contract with each contractor in a senatorial district getting N99.7million.
In the execution of the jobs, contractors served as both consultants and executors of the contract.
Click here to read full story
Documents show that the board and management of the commission violated a directive by former President Goodluck Jonathan on probity and accountable handling of funds.
Mr. Jonathan had on December 16, 2013, while inaugurating the Bassey Ewa Henshaw-led board at the Aso Rock Villa, cautioned against the award of fresh contracts until all ongoing ones are completed.
However, two weeks after it was inaugurated, the commission awarded a curious contract for what it called intelligence gathering, management and mitigation in all the senatorial districts in the nine states within the region.
To circumvent the Public Procurement Act 2007, the commission was said to have split the job into 30 lots and awarded to political gladiators and cronies of board members and top management staff.
A total of N2.7billion was doled out to 30 companies for the contracts, described as spurious by some insiders.
There are unconfirmed claims that some of the firms that benefited from the contracts are not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as prescribed by the Nigerian Companies and Allied Matters Act.
In each of the nine catchment states, a total N299.2million was spent on the contract with each contractor in a senatorial district getting N99.7million.
In the execution of the jobs, contractors served as both consultants and executors of the contract.
Click here to read full story
