Wike urges Tinubu to release NDDC forensic audit report.
Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has urged the Federal Government to reveal the results of the forensic audit conducted on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Wike made the statement during an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, when discussing the performance of Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, as Minister of Transport during the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He alleged that the study was withheld to protect those who could be charged for fraud.
Wike also accused the wife of Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, of receiving government benefits while her husband was in office, but provided no evidence.
The Federal Government launched a forensic audit in 2021 to investigate the commission’s financial transactions and project implementations from its creation in 2001 until August 2019.
It sought to uncover mismanagement, misappropriation of finances, and other irregularities.
Wike stated, “Let President Bola Ahmed Tinubu do us a favour and release the report of the forensic audit of the NDDC.”
“Mr President should help Nigerians.”
Wike’s statement comes a day after Amaechi praised his wife’s occupation in an interview on Thursday, claiming she was “almost an industrialist”.However, Wike quickly dismissed the claim, stating that Amaechi’s wife was the beneficiary of a monthly contract to train Niger Delta women.
The minister said that he came from a comfortable home and did not need to take any money from public monies, accusing Amaechi of being one of the most corrupt people.
“I wouldn’t say I was as wealthy as the Dangotes, but I didn’t come from a low-income family. His (Amaechi’s) rage stems from the fact that he saw me driving a Rolls-Royce. So what?
“It was not handed to me by a contractor; a contractor gave it to him, which is a bribe.
“He stole from a contractor, but I won’t do it. “He (Amaechi) is one of the most corrupt individuals,” he stated.
Wike further stated that if his claims were not included in the NDDC forensic report, he would quit as the FCT minister.
“Let them release the document; if what I am saying is not in it, I will resign as Minister of FCT.” “I don’t worship the office,” he explained.
The minister also questioned Amaechi’s qualifications, stating that the former Minister of Transportation did not graduate from Rivers State University.
“Amaechi went to Rivers State University, but he couldn’t pass,” he stated.
The House of Representatives committee’s investigation of the NDDC in July 2020 took a controversial turn when the then-Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said during a hearing before the committee that politicians were “the greatest beneficiaries” of NDDC contracts.
When asked how MPs benefited, Akpabio responded, “I just told you that we have records to show that the majority of contracts in the NDDC are given out to members of the National Assembly.”
There was also turbulence at the session when Daniel Pondei, the then-acting managing director of the NDDC, slumped on his desk as the House of Representatives committee questioned him.
Pondei had been interrogated for more than an hour when he gradually sank.
The probe controversy saw Akpabio trade harsh claims of corruption with Joi Nunei, a former managing director of the NDDC who testified before MPs via Zoom.