The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said on Friday, that he has instructed his lawyers to seek necessary redress in a court of competent jurisdiction on his behalf over the statements made by the former acting managing director of the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Ms. Joy Nunieh.
Ms Nunieh, in an interview with newsmen, had raised some accusations against the former governor of Akwa-Ibom.
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Among others, she alleged that Akpabio sexually harassed her, involved in contract racketeering and bombing of oil pipeline.
But a statement signed Friday in Abuja by Akpabio’s special assistant on media, Anietie Ekong, described all the allegations as “cornucopia of false, malicious and libellous,” adding that the Minister will seek redress in a court of law.
The statement said: “The Honourable Minister’s initial attitude was to allow his lawyers and the judicial system vindicate him of the false allegations against him, but he is compelled to react to some of the wayward allegations levied against his person by Ms. Nunieh, especially the one bothering on sexual harassment.
“To start with, let it be known that there is no scintilla of truth in all the allegations peddled around by Ms. Nunieh.
“They are simply false.
“The Honourable Minister did not at any time, place or circumstance make any form of sexual advances to Ms. Nunieh, not even to put himself in a position or posture suggestive of sexual advances towards Ms. Nunieh, or any female staff of his Ministry or the NDDC.
“The Honourable Minister has never hidden his admiration and respect for his wife, Mrs. Ekaete Akpabio, Children and sisters.
“He, therefore, felt compelled to react to the malicious attack on his person by Ms. Nunieh bothering on allegations of sexual harassment.
“The Honourable Minister therefore finds the said allegation nauseating and a very cheap blackmail, for Ms. Nunieh to suggest or insinuate that he sexually harassed her while she was the Acting Managing Director of the NDDC.”
He said it was appalling that Ms. Nunieh never deemed it fit to report the alleged incident to the police at the earliest opportunity she had, before, during or after her tenure as the Acting Managing Director on 17th February, 2020, if indeed the allegation was true.
“Waiting till July 10th and 13th 2020 when the National Assembly appears to be probing some of her actions as the Acting Managing Director of the Interim Management Committee (“IMC”) exposes her motive, especially at a time when the momentum for the Forensic Audit,” Akpabio said in the statement.
According to the statement, which linked the attacks to the investigation of the NDDC, the investigation is heating up and the truth is about to be unveiled for all to see.
“The Honourable Minister has a mandate from Mr. President, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR to unearth alleged looting and financial misappropriation that had gone on at the NDDC since its inception in 2001.
“He is committed to that mandate through the forensic audit of the NDDC and will not be deterred or distracted from that goal.
“The aim of this campaign of calumny is simple, get Senator Akpabio out, kill the forensic audit, and continue business as usual at the NDDC.”
On contract racketeering, bombing of oil pipelines allegations
On the allegations of the minister’s involvement in contract racketeering, bombing of oil pipelines, corruption/diversion of funds, the statement said the Akpabio “has stated several times and at various fora that since his assumption of office, he has only awarded three contracts till date- the appointment of the lead forensic auditors which was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC); the emergency procurement contract for COVID-19 intervention in the Niger Delta Area, which due to its urgency had his interim approval and Presidential approval in line with the Bureau of Public Procurement Act, and the award of Vehicles procurement duly approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Executive Council but yet to be consummated.
“It is noteworthy that all these contracts went through due processes.”
On her allegation that Akpabio directed her to change the Dollars in the NDDC’s account, the statement declared that NDDC’s account is domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“Every inflow and outflow is known and traceable.
“NDDC gets its revenue in Dollars which is paid directly to its Treasury Single Account (TSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The Dollar is then converted to Naira by the CBN and paid into the NDDC Naira Account still domiciled with the CBN upon a written application from the NDDC.
“It is, therefore, impossible for any sum of money belonging to the NDDC with the CBN including the several figures bandied around as missing to be missing.
“On the allegation that the Honourable Minister directed Ms. Nunieh to remove Mr. Kaltungo, same is false.
“The Honourable Minister was informed by the NDDC management that over twenty three (23) top Management Staff, from various part of Nigeria including the Niger Delta region, who have evaded leave in the last ten (10) years or had the tendency to influence negatively the ongoing forensic audit were recommended for mandatory leave by the lead forensic auditors.
“They are still staff of the Commission currently receiving their monthly salaries and benefits.”
The National Assembly is currently probing several corruption allegations in the NDCC.
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