NDDC: Focus or cover-up against IMC

The endless press releases from agents of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) may be desperate attempts to cover up the N40billion allegations levelled against the committee. We wish to express worry with the latest request by some faceless individuals that demanded that the planned Senate probe should cover the […]

The endless press releases from agents of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) may be desperate attempts to cover up the N40billion allegations levelled against the committee.

We wish to express worry with the latest request by some faceless individuals that demanded that the planned Senate probe should cover the commission’s activities from inception rather than focus mainly on the six months activities of the Interim Management Committee.

We urge the IMC of NDDC to allow the Senate to focus on unravelling the truth on the allegation of N40bn without making or resorting to covert attempts to frustrate the planned probe.

We also advise members of the IMC to concentrate their efforts on the mandate of forensic probe given to them by President Buhari and to also stay focussed on how to prove their innocence to Nigerians on the N40bn corruption allegation.

We were particularly happy when the Senate ordered a probe of the N40bn allegation and when the minister also offered to appear before the Senate not only to put a lie to the allegation but to also open a can of worms.

However, the plethora of press statements being issued on a daily basis by individuals or groups that appear to have been commissioned by someone from the Niger Delta Ministry can only suggest desperate efforts to cover-up some perceived loose ends.

The latest of the multiple pro-IMC press statements that requested the Senate probe to cover 19 years as against 6 months tenure of the Committee appear to have carelessly given away a desperate cover-up attempt.

Requesting the Senate to embark on 19 years probe of NDDC appears a lame attempt to muddle up the entire process and dim the hope of ever unravelling the truth about the N40bn allegation.

It had been alleged that N40bn was already misappropriated by the IMC and the Senate has already offered to probe the allegation.

Those issuing statements in defence of the IMC should have concentrated their efforts on how to prove their innocence in the allegation.

Besides, there is no need for the Senate to duplicate the mandate of 19 years forensic probe of NDDC which is already being handled by the IMC.

Meanwhile, the tacit conclusion that the Senate may not be fair and diligent in the cause of the probe also appear more like an admission of guilt.

It is a known fact that any probe by the National Assembly is always premised on public hearing and submission and verification of all necessary documents.

One cannot but wonder why the sudden presumptive fear that the Senate may alter records and fail to toe the path of justice in a public probe that is expected to be beamed live to all Nigerians.

Above all, a clear conscience need not fear any accusation.

For this reason, the individuals behind the latest press statement in defence of IMC should desist from splashing the tar of corruption on both the Senate Committee Chairman and the House Committee Chairman on NDDC.

Luke Dombraye, is the Coordinator, Niger Delta Environmentalist Warri, (NEW), Delta State