The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has linked some National Assembly members to some contracts that Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) awarded.
According to Punch, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, was copied in the list that included the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the NDDC, Nicholas Mutu, who represents the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State, as one of the lawmakers that were awarded contracts by the Commission.
According to Akpabio, Mutu who was arraigned in court early this year by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged abuse of office and N320m fraud, was awarded 74 projects which include numerous emergency road projects in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom State.
Also, Akpabio linked the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta-North), with 53 projects. The projects include emergency repairs of Asue Street, Owa Phase 2; ldumuogbe Road via Ojemaye; Otolokpo College Road, Otolokpo; and the Police lshu Ani Ukwu Road, Issele Uku.
Other lawmakers that were included in the list are Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo-South), James Manager (Delta-South), Samuel Anyanwu (Imo-West, 8th Senate) and others Akpabio identified as Ondo and Edo Reps.
Akpabio did not disclose the cost of the projects carried out by the lawmakers names but the cost of contracts awarded to non-lawmakers was included in the list.
Also, Akpabio did not state whether the lawmakers were directly awarded the contracts or the projects were nominated under their Zonal Intervention Projects, which is also known as constituency projects.
