By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Women drawn from the Niger Delta region on Thursday introduced a fresh twist into the ongoing national Assembly probe, accusing the former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission,NDDC, Ms Joy Nuineh, of allegedly working with some lawmakers to frustrate the forensic audit of the Commission.
The women under the auspices of the”Niger Delta Women Liberation Movement” further alleged that Nuineh is being sponsored to blackmail and frustrate the forensic audit exercise in order to cover the tracks of her sponsors.
Spokesperson for the group and President General Akwa Ibom State chapter, Obonganwan Obonodo Uko made this known at a media briefing held at the Abak LG Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress party.
Uko said the media space has been awashed with stories of how a certain Senator had secured NDDC’s contracts through proxy and collected huge some of money wilhout executing them, alleging that the 2020 budget of the Commission was heavily padded.
While expressing the hope that the forensic exercise would expose those who have looted the Commonwealth of the region, Uko urged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari to remain focused in his determination to cleanse NDDC and reposition it for growth.
“As women and mothers with conscience, we can say authoritatively that NDDC was raped and abused by people in high places, including members of the National Assembly.
“Their Strategy is to frustrate and sabotage the forensic audit and make it an inconclusive exercise. The ex- Managing director is conspiring with some National Assembly members to blackmail so that we don’t have the forensic audit of the NDDC.
“We have carefully followed the twists and the full blown campaign of calumny launched against persons who are willing to work to reposition the NDDC and make it responsive to it cardinal objectives.
“While the rest of us are of the opinion that the forensic audit is a bold step towards cleansing the NDDC, we are however worried that the real enemies of the Niger Delta region are ganging up against this exercise.
“We wish to bring to public limelight that the ex- Managing director of NDDC, Ms Joi Nuineh is heavily sponsored to attack the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs so that his ministry may backtrack from encouraging the forensic audit.” The women said.
Uko lamented that the Interventionist agency had been largely mismanaged since its creation 20 years ago, adding that before now it had been turned into a settlement ground for politicians while the people continue to languish in abject poverty and deprivation occasioned by decayed infrastructures and poor road networks.
According to her, “instead of NDDC having permanent office complex” the commission has continued to spawn landlords to the detriment of the hapless masses.”
While throwing their weight behind the forensic . audit exercise, the women urged the forensic auditors to carefully scrutinize all financial transactions of the Interim Management Committee in order to be put an end to the financial recklessness in the commission
