The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dan Abia, has dismissed allegation that N183billion is missing from the account of the commission.
Abia, who was fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday, August after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities of the commission, said the claim is untrue.
The
special periodic check report of the Office of the Auditor-General of
the Federation, has claimed that N183.7 billion is unaccounted for by
the commission.
The Auditor-General of the Federation, Samuel Ukura,
had insisted that his office stood by the report and directed those not
satisfied, to be prepared to defend their position before a special
committee of the National Assembly.
Abia, however
said that he was not the Managing Director of the NDDC during the period
that the Auditor General referred to in his allegation.
According
to him, his hands are clean and that he is ready to defend the
allegation with the records available at the commission.
"We
briefed the president on our mandate. As far as the audited account of
the NDDC is concerned, how many of us know that the audited account
under under reference refers to 2008 to 2012.
"I was not the managing director then. Let's get that fact clear. In principle, I came to brief Mr President proper.
'Let me assure you that even by the admission of the Auditor-General, no N180 billion is missing.
because Advanced Payment Guarantee (APG), as you know, is governed by advanced payment directives.
because Advanced Payment Guarantee (APG), as you know, is governed by advanced payment directives.
"Office
of the Auditor General is a government agency, whatever clarification,
we shall engage the office and proper record will be strengthened.
"I said that even before the president, no N180b is missing.’’
The Director General also dismissed the allegation of contract splitting being leveled against the commission.
"Let
me also tell you that I cannot be a party to contract splitting. NDDC
is a very unique institution; we have a budgeting process.
"Those people that are now crying, where were they when NDDC was not having project up till the end of the year?’’ he queried.
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