The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has quizzed top officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over allegations of corruption.

 

Azuka Ogugua, the spokesperson, made this known in a statement on Saturday,

 

She disclosed that the allegations included diversion of funds, procurement fraud and misappropriation of COVID-19 funds.

 

“Top officials of the agency are being investigated for their complicity in an alleged diversion of N5.474 billion meant for the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers handling the COVID-19 pandemic in the nine states of NDDC.

 

“The commission is also investigating the payments of millions of Naira to staff of the agency for foreign training during the COVID-19 full lockdown which were never attended; the non payment of entitlements to students on foreign scholarships.”

 

Others are sales of backdated contract letters and awards of contracts that were not captured in the budget.

 

ICPC said it had retrieved relevant documents and will continue investigations towards the recovery of diverted funds.

 

The agency assured that there will be prosecution of individuals found to have breached the law.

 

The National Assembly recently concluded a probe of the agency.

 

Its report revealed how the management led by Kemebradikumo Pondei spent billions as COVID-19 palliatives for NDDC staff.