The long awaited cleansing of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which many perceive as a bastion of corruption, may have started with the arrest of the Director, Finance and Accounts, Mr. Eno Ubi Out on Wednesday.
Mr. Otu is currently being grilled by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in relation to a case of alleged diversion of over N25 billion tax remittances.
TheNiche reliably gathered on Wednesday evening that Mr. Otu who arrived at the commission in the early hours of the day, was still being interrogated as at the time this report was filed.
An EFCC source who admitted that the Finance Director is in their custody, disclosed that the arrest was part of a larger investigation of the forensic audit report of the NDDC.
Details of how the N25 billion was allegedly looted and how it was shared and who the beneficiaries are, could not be ascertained as at the time of going to the press as the Spokesman for the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached for confirmation.
But the source who pleaded anonymity said the suspect is likely to spend some time with the commission while investigation is going on.
“What has been uncovered so far is mindboggling. But it is only a tip of the iceberg. Investigations are going smoothly and at the appropriate time, the commission will tell Nigerians what has been uncovered,” he said.
Last month, President Muhammadu Buhari said his administration had started implementation of the NDDC forensic audit report which was submitted to him in September 2021.
He also raised hopes that the much-awaited appointment of board of directors for the commission would begin soon.
The President gave the assurance at the kick-off of a two-day management retreat organised by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs at the Old Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.
Represented by the Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo, he said, “In pursuance of our determination to curb corruption and in response to the call of the governors of South-South for a forensic audit of the NDDC, I undertook some critical reforms and requested a forensic audit of the NDDC from inception to 2019.
“The report of the audit has been submitted and implementation of its recommendations has commenced in phases. This process will soon usher in a new management and board for the commission.”
In June, the interim administrator of the NDDC, Dr. Effiong Akwa, said the forensic audit on NDDC opened a can of worms in the commission, adding that the worms were being treated.
