The House of Representatives on Tuesday disclosed that it has received the audited accounts of the crisis ridden Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) for the period 2013 to 2018.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Account, Rep. Wole Oke who disclosed the recipe of the report on the accounts from the the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (OAuGF) said the report will be given accelerated hearing.
The House and the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC has had a running battle over misappropriation of funds in the commission.
Oke also disclosed that it received the audit reports of accounts of Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc.
He said: “Yes, we now have the Auditor General of the Federation’ report on NDDC from 2013 to 2018, as well NBET from 2017 to 2019 respectively.
“I assure Nigerians that both reports would be given accelerated consideration upon resumption from current annual vacation,” he said.
From the report, the OAuGF raised questions on the NDDC accounts over payment of medical check-up expenses to part-time board members to a tone of N459.350 million.
Also queried are excessive payment of impress to the Executive Board members to a tone of N1.3 billion and engagement and payment of external solicitors for N1.5 billion without the consent of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation
Also the report queried irregularities in the award of contracts for logistic and consultation services at a cost of N199 million and award of emergency contracts without stating the contract prices to the tune of three billion Naira.
Others are, doubtful commissioning of consultants for the studies and design projects after the award and execution of the relevant projects to the tune of N485 million.
Also payments of rent to a legal advocate on a property belonging to the Rivers Government, but released to the Federal Government which houses the NDDC Headquarters to the tune of N1.2 billion and N698 million being payment of rent to retired generals for regional security surveillance on NDDC projects without evidence of service delivery were also queried.