The Coalition of Niger Delta Civil Society Organizations (NDCSO) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency implement the forensic audit on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and prosecute defaulters.
The group who made the call during enlarged meeting in Asaba, also urged the president to authorize the publication of all the details of the over 13,000 abandoned projects as in the forensic report.
The convener of NDCSO and DG Delta State Center for Human Right & Anti-Corruption Initiative, Comrade Jude Ojiugo-Onochie, said it has become imperative for the president to take the notch a little further by ordering discrete investigation into the abandoned projects with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.
He said, “We, coalition of Niger Delta Civil Society Organizations had identified with your anti-corruption policy in which you vowed, when you took over the mantle of leadership of Nigeria on May 29, 2015, to combat corruption.
“In a bid to keep to this vow, you have taken many bold steps which include inauguration of an audit committee in August 2019, to carry out forensic audit on the NDDC from its inception to date.
“The committee had submitted its final report of the forensic audit after two years of feverish investigation.
“We have followed with kin interest the drama and events that took place while the committee carried out its assignment and we have vowed that we will not fold our hands and watch the report of the committee to be swept under the carpet.
“And therefore, we urge you Mr. President to authorize the publication of all the details of the over 13,000 abandoned projects, the names of contractors involved, and the amount approved and amount released to contractors”
The group urged the federal government to carry out discrete investigation and ensure adequate prosecution of all persons involved in the corrupt practices relating to the abandoned projects
