Concerned citizens under the auspices of Niger Delta Liberators and Ex Agitators Forum, NDLEF, has called for the investigation of the activities of Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Dennis Otuaro, over alleged misappropriation of funds.
NDLEF, in a petition, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, recently stated that PAP allegedly awarded contracts to moribund companies and misappropriated over N50 billion of public funds meant for the development of the Nigeria Delta region.
Convener of the NDLEF, Odey Otunu, at a press briefing in Abuja, said “We all acknowledge the interest of the President Bola Tinubu-led government in the development of the Niger Delta region through the release of funds for Niger Delta oriented government parastatals like the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the Presidential Amnesty Office.
However, as a group, we cannot fold our hands and watch those who are supposed to be beacons of hope and pilots of the development in the Niger Delta Region become our nightmares. Hence, this press briefing is necessary to amplify the plight of the region before things get out of hand”.
The group further alleged that a company by the name Maro-Kana Construction Co. Limited ,RC 1253803, incorporated on April 8, 2015, which is in the business of construction, has been awarded a contract by PAP for consultancy.
“This is clearly giving a mandate to the company to do what it lacks the legal capacity to do”, Otunu stated.
Otunu, further said the most shocking discovery in their investigation is that Maro-Kana Construction Co. Limited is moribund.
According to him, “A simple search on Corporate Affairs Commission revealed that the company is inactive and therefore does not qualify to bid for government contract. Yet this is the company that without any bidding process has received billions of Naira perpetually for organizing fictitious stakeholders meetings only”.
He further said “On July 10, 2024, the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta allegedly paid
₦42,976,987.50 to Maro-Kana Construction Co Limited for consultancy on strategic communication and stakeholders’ management in the Niger Delta region, Bayelsa, and Cross Rivers State for May 2024 with payment reference 1001194577-13, Payer Code: 0111002002.
“On July 17, 2024, the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta paid ₦90,000,000.00 to Maro-Kana Construction Co Limited for reimbursement of stakeholders’ management meetings in Bayelsa State for June 2024 with payment reference 1001196052-39 and Payer Code: 0111002002″.
The group then called on the EFCC, to investigate these transactions and others listed in the petition, noting that if nothing is done, they will engage in peaceful protest to drive home their request.
