NDDC N40billion Probe: No Amount Of Blackmail Will Distract Us- Lawan

The Senate has hit back at its traducers linking it to an alleged financial impropriety in Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) triggered by its move probe N40billion expended by Interim Management Committee ( IMC) of the Commission within the first three months of the year.

The was the sequel to fresh request for extension of time, made by the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, mandated to carry out the investigation, Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi (APC Ekiti North).

Coming through order 43 of the Senate standing rule Adetumbi complained that perhaps due to COVID-19 pandemic and attendant lockdowns, many of the Stakeholders invited by the committee did not respond on time but gradually indicating the interest of honouring invitations sent to them.

“I’m glad to inform you that just a few days ago, we started receiving the responses from these stakeholders that will provide information to the committee. Just a few days ago, the responses of these stakeholders started to come in for the first time last week. “This week we will receive as much information that the committee will need to do its work.”

He requested the Senate to grant the Committee an additional six weeks to carry out the Investigation.

“For this reason, I will like to seek the indulgence of the senate for an extension of time to enable us to receive all the information and documents that we need for the committee to be able to do a thorough job that has been given to us.”
But in ruling on the request, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said six weeks was too long by cutting it to four weeks.

Lawan after putting the request to voice votes and voted for by virtually all the Senators made remarks bordering on admonition for those he described as detractors.

He said: We wish the Committee a very successful exercise and urged it to remain the focus as far as the planned investigation on finances of NDDC under the Interim Management Committee ( IMC), is concerned.

“The move by the Senate in this direction has generated a lot of controversies driven by vested interests.
” So many side attractions, detractions and disruptions pro or against the planned investigation are being carried out by people or groups of people.

” Part of the distractions are series of write-ups in the media by the vested groups almost on daily basis but unfortunately, all these cannot stop the Senate from forging ahead with an assignment backed by resolution and firmly within the ambit of its constitutional responsibilities.

” So, in their own interest, the earlier they stop the distractions the better because our committee will forge ahead with the assignment “.