The Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio has denied accusing members of the House of Reps of receiving 60% in NDDC contracts.
The denial was made in a letter sent to the House of Reps, after the lawmakers gave him a 48 hours ultimatum to present names of the persons, the sum of the contracts received, locations and companies used to exercise the contracts.
Akpabio claimed in a hearing earlier this week that members of the House were beneficiaries to NDDC contracts.
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However, in the letter sent today, he says he never said members of the present 9th House of reps were beneficiaries of NDDC contracts, citing the fact that the Commission is yet to implement a budget since the 9th assembly began.
“As to the reference to 60 per cent of contracts, the investigative committee refused and neglected to give me opportunity to explain that; I was responding to a question by a member of the committee.
“Permit me to explain that any reference to 60 per cent during the investigative hearing was in answer to a question by a member of the committee as to whether or not, a medical doctor could act as Executive Director project which I answered in affirmative.
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“That the greatest project in the world today is COVID-19, which is medical in nature; furthermore, I am made to understand that 60 per cent of NDDC yearly budget are medical in nature, therefore is better for a medical doctor to serve as the Executive Director Projects,” Akpabio said.
He revealed that the Director of Project forwarded him 19 older contracts valued at N9 billion, which he claims the NDDC Chairman insists the IMC pays for it.
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House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, has referred Akpabio’s response to the House Committee on Ethic and Privileges.
Earlier today, the Speaker announced in a statement that he has asked the Clerk of the house to begin legal proceedings and initiate a criminal complaint of perjury against the Minister and also a possible defamation suit.