BREAKING: Akpabio denies saying lawmakers got NDDC contracts

Following the 48-hours ultimatum given by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to name the lawmakers who got contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has denied the accusation.

The minister made this known in a letter read by the Speaker on the floor of the House during plenary on Thursday. Akpabio said the only time he made mention of lawmakers collecting contracts from NDDC was in response to a question by a member of the committee probing the NDDC.

The minister added that the only made reference to 60 percent during his presentation was when he was asked whether a Medical Director can serve as an Executive Director Project.

Akpabio said he replied that since 50 to 60 percent of NDDC contracts were medical-related, he has no issue in a Medical Director serving in that capacity.

The minister also said that the Executive Director Project of the NDDC forwarded to him a list of 19 owed contracts which the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC insisted must be paid before the 2020 budget of the commission is passed.

He also said that the NDDC has not executed any contract under the 2020 budget since it has not been passed, while the 2019 budget was passed in April and has not been implemented.

Meanwhile, the Speaker referred the letter to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for consideration.

This development is coming after the Green Chamber vowed to sue the minister for failing to name lawmakers who got contracts from the NDDC.

Recall that during this presentation the panel probing the NDDC on Monday, Akpabio alleged that most of the contracts awarded by the commission went to Senators and House of Reps members.

Speaking on the floor of the house on Thursday, Gbajabiamila said he will not allow anyone “assassinate the character of the house”.