N’Delta Group Cautions EFCC Against Remitting $1.6bn to NDDC

By Adedapo Adesanya

A group known as Niger Delta Peoples’ Assembly For Peace and Development has warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to release the $1.6 billion statutory remittances made by oil multinationals in its custody to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The call was made following allegations that some political elites have been lobbying for the said funds to be released to the commission.

President of the group, Mr Obarine Ngelale, in a statement, said NDDC was currently being superintended by a sole administrator, which, according to him, was not recognised in the NDDC Act.

Mr Ngelale also charged Governors of the nine oil-producing states to prevail on the EFCC not to release the said funds to the NDDC, while calling on the anti-graft agency to take over the ongoing forensic audit of the agency.

While calling on the federal government to intervene, he explained that the said money belongs to the oil-producing states, hence should be used for the development of the region.

“We frown at the notion that such a huge amount of money would be released to the sole administrator of the NDDC who is mainly answerable to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

“We wish to reiterate what we have been saying and which has been the position of all the stakeholders of the region that the creation of the position of a sole administrator is illegal and runs against the NDDC Act of 2000, from which the commission derives its powers.

“We call on the EFCC not to release the money which is currently being warehoused by the commission to the NDDC and for the EFCC to take over what is obviously an unending forensic audit of the commission.

“The money belongs to the oil-producing states. We call on the Governors of the nine oil-producing states to please rise up and stop the release of this money to the sole administrator.

“We have challenges of insecurity in our region, our youths are getting restive, our environment has been destroyed, and now our commonwealth is going to be released to an unaccountable body, please our dear Governors, don’t allow this to happen.”