NDDC PROBE: AKPABIO REFUSED TO SIGN OATH, LIED BEFORE US- REPS

…as minister accuses lawmakers of executing most contracts
Accusations and counter-accusations that had characterised the ongoing probe of the alleged financial malfeasance in the Niger Delta Development Commission continued on Monday with the House of Representatives Committee alleging that Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, deliberately refused to sign the oath papers and even lied through his almost two and a half-hour testimony.
Akpabio, while testifying earlier, had accused the members of the National Assembly of collecting most of the contracts awarded by the NDDC.
Vice Chairman of the House Committee probing the NDDC, Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, who stepped in to take over proceedings after the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, recused himself from continuing to preside over the investigation of the commission following allegations of corruption and bias levelled against him by the NDDC acting Managing Director, Prof Keme Pondei and members of the Interim Management Committee, last week.
Pondei and the IMC members had last week walked out on the committee.
But Akpabio, while testifying before the committee, could not substantiate the allegations levelled against Tunji-Ojo, saying he couldn’t have got any contracts from the NDDC as he was not even a member of the House of Representatives as at the time the controversial contracts were awarded.
Earlier, the minister alleged that most of the contracts in the NDDC were given to National Assembly members.
“We have records to show that most of the contracts at NDDC are given to members of the national assembly… You people are the biggest beneficiaries,” he had said.
Akpabio was then interrupted by the members of the committee, who asked him to give clarifications on other issues.
However, after the meeting, committee’s acting Chairman, Ereyitomi, who said Tunji-Ojo excused himself from the committee because he did not have any skeleton in his cupboard, accused Akpabio of deliberately refusing to sign the oath and lying before the committee even when he had testified under oath.
According to Ereyitomi, “The reason for the meeting is to ask questions based on provided documents and allegations against the NDDC officials.
“The Minister, Senator Akpabio, accused some lawmakers, but if you see what he has done based on the documents provided, he started contradicting himself and no substantial evidence to back up his claims. The minister also refused to sign the oath.
“Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Akpabio, has not been able to prove the allegations against him (tunji-Ojo) right. We have some facts with us. A comprehensive report will be made and submitted to the House. We will present them to the House and they will take it up from there.
“However, Tunji Ojo remains the chairman of the committee and still very much in charge.”