The management of Ijaw Youths Council(IYC )Worldwide, has actually raised the alarm over an alleged plot to set parts of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), head office ablaze by some naughty components to cover up their monetary misdeeds.

The IYC, had previously alleged that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, in connivance with others have engaged in acts of forgery and illegal payment of N20bn to ghost specialists for the fictitious contract of distilling supposedly awarded by the NDDC.

Nevertheless, the NDDC, in a quick reaction, rejected paying any N20 billion naira to any ghost professional or any one for that matter as declared by the group.

NDDC, through the Director, Corporate Affairs, Dr. Ibitoye Abosede, stated the call by the youths for the probe of monies that were never spent by the commission is not just laughable however most unfortunate.

“The public is hereby put on notification, that these spurious lies are being masterminded, fabricated and managed by individuals who are positioning their family members and associates for supreme appointment into the board of the NDDC,” Abosede had actually said.

But the IYC insisted on an independent examination into its allegations that the NDDC paid N20bn to ghost specialists for fictitious contracts.

The IYC referred to as watery the NDDC’s reaction to its claims that the commission under the guidance of the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Senator Godswill Akpabio made the payment utilizing forged signatures of a former acting Managing Director of NDDC, Prof. Brambaifa and a former Executive Director, Project, Samuel Ajugbe.

The IYC in a declaration signed and sent to DAILY POST by its Spokesperson, Ebilade Ekerefe, stated the probe must also include its accusations that 60 percent of the N20bn paid out illegally by the NDDC was relocated to Abuja through the bureau de change.

Ekerefe stated the financial sleaze presently rocking the NDDC was of significant percentage exceeding similar underhand transactions that led to the initiation of the forensic audit of the commission.

He said: “We are demanding an independent examination into the monetary activities of the NDDC in the last one year despite the weak and desperate rejection by the commission.”

Ekerefe stated though the IYC was not stunned by the response signed by the commission’s Director, Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, Abosede, the council was entertained that NDDC stopped working to recognize the IYC as an essential stakeholder in the Niger Delta region.

He said: “We are likewise amused that the NDDC was silent on the factors behind its failure to pay money owed to aggrieved regional contractors, who had finished their jobs.

“IYC is a civil rights company in Nigeria, established in 1998, which supports the interests of the Ijaw ethnic group of the Niger Delta. We are neither a political group nor being sponsored by anybody.

“We are no longer fretted by the weak claims and efforts to blackmail and divide the IYC by Minister Akapabio and the Interim Administrator, Akwa Effiong. When Minister Akpabio pleaded and fulfilled with us in Abuja over agitations on the development of the region, we were not ‘one ijaw group’.”

Ekerefe stated it was regrettable that after all the demonstrations and agitations for the constitution of the substantive board of the NDDC had fallen under the deaf ears of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We will continue to upset for the constitution of a substantive board since it is the best thing to do. Regardless of the name-calling by the NDDC, the IYC will not relent in keeping an eye on the activities of the existing unlawful Interim Management of the commission and reporting our findings to members of the general public.

“We, therefore, insist that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) visit the commission and scrutinize the books from November, 2021 to February, 2022. We firmly insist that both Minister Godswill Akpabio and Akwa Effiong be asked to step aside and allow such examination to occur.

“We are likewise using this chance to notify the public of the plot to fire the head office of the commission in a desperate effort to cover the financial criminal activity committed within the commission against the Niger Delta individuals.

“Already we are aware that in order to set the phase for such arson, they have actually begun making false claims of dangers by some groups to explode the NDDC headquarters.

“We get in touch with the security device to be on complete alert to stop those associated with the financial misdeed within the commission from burning the only tradition attained under a deceitful Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Godswill Akpabio.

“Once again, we desire individuals of the Niger Delta region to understand that the IYC is not daunted by the lies and conspiracies from the Minister of Niger Delta and his cohorts.”