The Senate yesterday summoned the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the Sole Administrator of Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC), Mr. Effiong Okon Akwa over an alleged non – payment of N2.2 billion contract executed for the agency.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics , Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, said both Akpabio and Akwa must appear before his panel unfailingly on April 12, 2022 by 2pm.

Akinyelure told journalists that his committee had written several letters of invitation to Akpabio and NDDC sole administrator on petitions against them without any response from them.

He said: “It shouldn’t be business as usual. Akpabio and the NDDC Sole Administrator must appear before the Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee failure of which will lead to issuance of Warrant of Arrest on them.

” The Committee wants to believe that as far the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs is concerned , break down in communication must have caused his non – appearance before the Committee because as a Senator , he should know the implication of that .

” This press briefing is being done to solve the perceived communication breakdown between the Committee and his office. If our letters are not delivered to him, he will read and hear about the invitation in the media, ” he said.

The summon, he explained, was hinged on petitions filed against Akpabio and NDDC sole administrator by Akom Survey Services Limited.

The firm alleged non- payment of fees for Survey carried out in the nine Niger Delta States based on N2.2 billion contractual agreement with the NDDC .

He said the petitioners totalling seven different companies , lamented in their petitions that non – payment for the services rendered , is pushing them into insolvency arising from unbearable Interests on loans secured from the banks .

” Aside the N2.2 billion contract yet to be paid to the seven companies by NDDC, there is an outstanding of N6.25 billion contracts yet to be paid to affected companies and N2.5 billion job racketeering scandal .

” Petitions on all these against the NDDC and by extension, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs are before the Committee which must be thoroughly investigated as mandated by the Senate,” he added.

______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

_______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation _______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion. Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating: "....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic." How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626 Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. _______________________________________________________________________