N6.2b palliatives diversion: Senators seek arrest of NDDC chiefs

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt; Sanni Onogu, Okodili Ndidi and Nicholas Kalu, Abuja

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Monday resolved to recommend the arrest of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Interim Management Committee (IMC) members.

It followed their alleged refusal to answer to allegations that they misappropriated N6.2billion COVID-19 palliatives.

The Senate committee told reporters that it would ask the Senate leadership to direct the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, through the executive to produce members of the NDDC management before it on March 9, 2021.

The money was approved last year by President Muhammadu Buhari to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Niger Delta region.

The money was reportedly released to the former Interim Management Committee of NDDC headed by Prof. Keme Pondei, with Effiong Akwa, Caroline Naagbo and Cairo Ojougbo as members.

Akwa was…