…former gov and serving senator intervened to save self and Akpabio
…how Aso Rock ordered stoppage of probe
..what has happened to the NDDC audit?
…we’ll soon shortlist our report for consideration-House Spokesman
More facts emerged weekend as to why the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) probe panels, and all the noise in the media about it, suddenly hit a brick wall.
Our investigations reveal why everything suddenly went silent among the accusers and accused, despite the weighty allegations levelled against certain senior government officials, serving and former Senators and House of Representatives members.
An investigation by TheNewsGuru.com (TNG), which sought to find out the stages the probe panels at the National Assembly are, and which sought to take a deep look into all the contending forces, showed a curious twist to the tale which rubbishes all the pretence to unravelling the troubling corruption in the NDDC and fighting the corrupt elements that have held the intervention agency in the dirty and murky waters of corruption.
TNG investigations which involved speaking to a wide spectrum of actors in the hooplas which stunned the national consciousness reveal the deft foot works of some senators, the minister of Niger Delta Affairs and some top officials in the presidency, and how they succeeded in finally nailing the ‘coffin’ of the NDDC probe.
Multiple sources who spoke with TNG, some under the condition of anonymity, informed TNG that a former governor and serving member in the ninth Assembly helped to midwife negotiations that eventually buried the probe.
The lawmaker who speaks impeccable Hausa was said to have shuttled between Aso Rock and NASS on how to bury the probe.
He arranged meetings with NDDC officials and NASS leadership on ways and means to devise ways to bury the matter.
This development according to TNG sources soon crystallized into interested parties in Aso Rock putting a call to the leadership at the National Assembly soliciting that all matters involving Local Content and NDDC probe panels should be stepped down given the huge noise and embarrassment which the NDDC probe panels is having on the image of the government and certain people in it.
The source said “that’s why a call came from Aso Rock that anything that has to do with local content and the NDDC should be dropped.
“The Clerk of the National Assembly, CNA who was removed over night was specifically told not to touch anything local content or NDDC.
“It’s difficult to table any matter for now that has any link with the two sensitive issues”.
TNG further checks reveal that the serving senator who is also neck deep in NDDC botched contracts had no choice than to arrange all the meetings to save himself and his colleagues.
Recall that elder statesman, Chief EK Clark had written to NASS to allow the accusing finger to point to all directions.
All the allegations leveled against Akpabio by former NDDC MD, Joi Nunieh, have been thrown aside because Aso Rock made a call.
So many revelations were made during the probe that led to the fainting spell of the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Prof Daniel Pondei.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio had spoken from both sides of his mouth claiming that his former colleagues were the biggest beneficiaries of NDDC contracts.
Many former Niger Delta Governors were fingered and they all denied turning Akpabio into an orphan.
Sensing the danger ahead, Akpabio swallowed the humble pie denying ever saying his former colleagues benefitted from the NDDC.
Both chairmen of NDDC committees in the ninth Assembly were fingered and it was even alleged that a principal officer collected $1m to help bury the probe.
From all indications, the audit of NDDC since inception is now in abeyance as it was alleged Aso Rock also want it stopped.
The audit which would have helped to reposition the government body may just end up in archival dustbin as no concrete move has been made since the probe was jettisoned.
Also, while the report submitted by the Senate was said to be watery, the House has also tactically sent the allegations leveled against lawmakers said to be beneficiaries of the sleaze in the NDDC to the Ethics Committee, adjudged the graveyard of the House of Representatives.
When contacted, House Spokesman, Rep Benjamin Kalu said the House report was ready for consideration.
He said: “The report has been submitted to the house for consideration just like other reports and the committee on rules and business will short list it for consideration at the right time.
