CONCERNED NIGERIAN CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT PANEL TO INVESTIGATE REVELATIONS DURING HOUSE OF REPS’ PROBE OF NDDC

Special Report : ALFRED AJAYI –

A Concerned Citizen and Public Affairs Commentator, Chief Chidozie Ezeugwa, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to set up an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the operations and activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Chief Ezeugwa, who made the call in Awka, Anambra State Capital, said it became necessary due to what he termed “disturbing revelations” during the probe by the House of Representatives and the alleged indictment of some members of the National Assembly by the management of the Commission.

The Public Affairs Commentator also urged the Presidency to make public the outcome of the forensic audit of the NDDC accounts.

“The ones conducting the investigation had been indicted by the management of NDDC. It appears that they had lost the moral right to continue with the investigation. It is now an opportunity for the Presidency to move in and set up an independent panel of enquiry and at the same time look into the record books of the Commission so that they will be able to ascertain the level of massive corruption happening there, both the ones committed by the past and present management teams,” Chief Ezeugwa advised.

According to Chief Ezeugwa, such an independent probe will also help to determine the veracity of the allegation of complicity leveled against some members of the National Assembly by the management of the Commission. He advised the President to allow the law to take its course on all persons, who would be found culpable, as Nigerians and international community were eager to see his reactions to all the shocking revelations about the activities of NDDC.

“Whoever that is indicted must be made to face the wrath of the law. We can no longer sit and watch the national assets, our treasury being symphoned in that manner. I’m scared. Nigerians are watching President Muhammadu Buhari to see what he has to do and how he handles this issue,” Chief Ezeugwa remarked.

Chief Ezeugwa equally noted that Nigerians home and abroad were waiting to see the outcome of the on-going investigations into all allegations leveled against the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu.