The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr. Chibuzor Ugwuoha, and six other directors of the commission have appealed to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission for an extension of time to appear before the anti-graft agency.
The ICPC had invited Ugwuoha as well as the Executive Director, Projects, Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Director, Project Monitoring and Supervision, Director, Community and Rural Development, Head, Procurement Unit and Head, Internal Audit Department, to appear at the commission headquarters on Monday over allegations of financial impropriety and irregularities in the award of many contracts at the NDDC.
The top officials of the Niger Delta interventionist agency were expected to face ICPC operatives investigating the award of contracts at the commission and also furnish the anti-graft agency with documents on such contracts.
But out correspondent learnt in Abuja, on Monday, that Uwuoha and his other directors had begged the ICPC to allow them appear on Friday.
Lawyers representing the NDDC directors had appealed for more time to assemble their facts.
A source close to the agency quoted the lawyers as saying they got the ICPC invitation late and would, therefore, need more time to prepare their documents.
ICPC spokesman, Mr. Folu Olamiti, confirmed that the NDDC officials would face the anti-graft agency on Friday.
The ICPC is investigating allegations of large scale fraud and irregularities at the NDDC.
The commission said it had received 10 petitions against the management of the NDDC that alleged gross violations of the provisions of the ICPC Act and Financial Regulations of the country.
Preliminary investigations into the petitions against the top officials of the NDDC showed that there had indeed been violations of the law leading to the allegations of the massive fraud now rocking the NDDC.
The ICPC said it was investigating the Oguoma-Tsekelewu River Canalisation phase and solar powered water projects awarded to different companies by the NDDC.
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NDDC MD, Ugwuoha, others beg ICPC