Following the N40bn corruption allegation against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Kemebradikumo Pondei, has disclosed that the sum of N1.5bn was used as COVID-19 relief funds to take care of its staffs during lockdown.
The Upper Chambers of the Nigeria Senate had on May 5, set up a 7-man adhoc committee to investigate the financial recklessness of the Interim Management of the NDDC.
While Pondei with other delegates from the NDDC appeared before the Senate Committee on Thursday, the lawmakers raised concerns over how the commission spent N40bn in the last three months without undue process.
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However, Pondei gave account of how the money was spent. He noted that N1.5bn was used to take care of NDDC staffs amidst COVID-19 Lockdown.
Also, part of the audit report read out by the Committee Chairman, Olubunmi Adetumbi, indicated that over N3bn was spend as COVID-19 funds between October 2019, to May 2020.
Furthermore, N10m was alleged to be paid one person, N7m to two people, N5m to three people, N3m each to 148 people, N1.5m each to 157 people, N1m each to 497 people, and N600,000 each to 464 persons.
Another N475m was discovered to be given to the Nigeria Police to purchase hand sanitizers and face masks.
