Senate probes Niger Delta minister, Umana over N480bn project

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has summoned Umana Okon Umana, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, over alleged plot to siphon N480 billion belonging to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The committee also maintained that Danladi Umar, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), must re-appear before it over physical assault meted to a security guard, Clement Shargwak in Abuja in March 2021.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday on behalf of the entire members of the committee, the chairman, Senator Ayo Akinyelure (PDP Ondo Central) said Niger Delta Affairs Minister as clearly stated in the petition, has allegedly perfected plans to seek presidential approval to collect the money on the guise that the money would be spent on special projects.

He said several other allegations were levelled against him among which is his refusal to forward two annual budgets of the NDDC (2021 and 2022) to the National Assembly for approval while money are been spent by the commission on the orders of the minister therefore taken the power of appropriations to himself.

He added that minister is also being summoned to explain why he sacked over one hundred NDDC staff on assumption of office aside plotting to sack the current NDDC Sole Administrator, Effiong Akwa who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari and have him replaced by one of his cronies.