Top officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, where they denied allegations by the Auditor general of the Federation, Samuel Ukura that the sum of N183.7 billion is missing from the account of the commission.
Ukura had stood on by the allegations even when the Executive Director of the NDDC, Henry Ogiri, had denied the allegations.
Leading the delegation to the Presidential Villa was the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dan Abia.
Speaking to newsmen after meeting with President Buhari, Abia said: “Let me assure you that even by the admission of the auditor general, no N180 billion is missing. Because Advance Payment Guarantee, APG, as you know is governed by advanced payment directives.
“The office of the auditor general is a government agency. We shall engage the office and records will be straightened. I said even before the president that no N180billion is missing,” Mr. Abia said.
“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.
“It is only proper that we should come and brief the president. I requested to meet Mr. President in my capacity as the managing director of the NDDC. I was not summoned as reported in the media.
“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 reference is that of 2008 to 2012. I was not the managing director then. Let’s get that fact clear.”
