The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has summoned the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, over allegations of gross misconduct
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, who made this known at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja said the Minister will appear before the committee on November 10,2022.
According to him,the committee resolved to invite the Minister following a petition against him
He added that the committee had agreed to ensure the matter was accorded an accelerated hearing.
Akinyelure said details of the allegations contained in the petition had been forwarded to the minister
He however gave a hint that the petitioner alleged that the minister was aiding corrupt practices and had failed to inaugurate the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The lawmaker said the minister was also accused of trying to replace the sole administrator of the NDDC, Mr Effiong Akwa, who was duly appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, and confirmed by the National Assembly.
According to him, removing the sole administrator would be detrimental to the interest of the people in the Niger Delta Region adding that the minister was also expected to explain why he decided to sack over 700 staff of the NDDC.
He further said the minister was accused of allegedly pursuing his own agenda as against that of the Niger Delta region.
While saying that the Minister, based on the petition, was compiling projects not appropriated by Buhari to get N480 billion funds of the agency domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Akinyelure disclosed that the N480 billion was contributed by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) for the use of NDDC, adding that the minister was allegedly going behind the back door to get the money out.
He said “We want the president to stop the minister because the projects he had allegedly compiled were not appropriated for by the National Assembly,”
