NDDC: NANS Threatens To Expose More Corruption, Backs Forensic Audit, Blasts Nunieh

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has threatened to expose more corrupt practices at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Legit.ng reports.

The students’ apex body in Nigeria also called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to stand on his ground and ensure the forensic audit of the commission was not sabotaged by powerful elements in the country.

In a statement sent to journalists on Saturday, July 18, Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan, president of NANS, confirmed the resolve of Nigerian students to embark on mass action, should anyone or group of persons attempt to disrupt the forensic audit.

“Forensic audit is not negotiable, any attempt by person or group of persons whose sharp practices in the commission is to frustrate the ongoing forensic audit will be met by the mass action of Nigerian students,” Akpan said.

According to him, the outcome of the forensic audit would bring an end to the days of perpetual corruption in the commission and thereafter making the funds serve the people of the region.

Akpan also lambasted the former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Ms Joi Nunieh, describing her actions as conniving with enemies of Niger Delta.

He said the student body was alarmed at the latest twist and outburst from Ms Nunieh, wondering why “all these allegations and drama she is acting were not staged when she was in office as the acting MD of the commission.”

Akpan stressed that Ms Nuneih’s attack on Senator Godswill Akpabio is “designed in connivance with the distractors who she originally called detractors while she served as acting MD.”

Akpan described as false, the allegation of diversion of the scholarship fund, stressing that it was the current management of NDDC that hearkened to the cry of Nigerian students who study abroad and were stranded for years.

“As stakeholders in the Niger Delta, our frustration is that our students that have been stranded overseas just because of the commission’s failure to pay their school fees that were duly budgeted for in the commission budget since 2016 which was only rescued through the intervention of the present IMC under Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei.

“The same Miss Nunieh has ignored the appeal of students and left them to suffer until Professor Pondei came in,” he said.

Similarly, a group, Peoples Alliance for Indigenous Rights, has expressed concern over the conduct of Nunieh.

The group said the incidences witnessed in the last few days, especially the conduct of Nunieh is “a show of shame, prompted by wild allegations.”

The group at a briefing in Abuja on Thursday, July 16, further described the conduct of Nunieh as “overly dramatic and staged managed.”

Meanwhile, Akpabio said he has instructed his lawyers to seek necessary redress in court over the recent comments of Nunieh.

Nunieh had recently accused Akpabio of sexual harassment. The minister said he is approaching a competent court of jurisdiction over what he described as ‘defamatory statements’ made by the former NDDC acting MD.

In a related development, Donu Kogbara, ex-media adviser to Nunieh has advised her former principal to take the decision to relieve her of her duties in good fate.

Kogbara, a veteran journalist, gave the advice in a statement sent to journalists on Monday, July 13 while reacting to the recent controversy involving Nunieh and Akpabio.

She said that Nunieh’s claim that Akpabio attempted to force a corruption allegation against the chairman, Senate committee on NDDC, Peter Nwaoboshi, was baseless and untrue.

According to her, her former boss was a bad loser whose attitude left much to be desired.