LILIAN MADAKI
SawabiyaNews
July 23, 2020
The House of Representatives on Thursday, took a decision to drag Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, before a Court of law, for making indicting comment against its members.
Akpabio, on Monday told the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) probing alleged financial recklessness when he appeared before it that about 60% of total contracts at the NDDC were awarded to members of the National Assembly, NASS.
Irked by the comment, the lawmakers passed a resolution the next day and gave the Minister, 48 hours to make public the names and details of the lawmakers, who he alleged were beneficiaries of the contacts.
At the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum on Thursday, Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, in his opening speech at the plenary ordered that the Minister be sued for making such “indicting” comment, which he had failed to substantiate.
Meanwhile, Akpabio on his part had denied accusing Reps of taking 60 percent contracts from commission.
Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday denied accusing members of the National Assembly of collecting 60 percent of the contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in a message contained in a letter which was read on the floor of the House of Representatives during plenary by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.
According to the letter, the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs said, the only reference he made to 60 percent during his presentation before the NDDC committee a few days ago was in response to a question by a member of the committee.
The Minister further explained in the letter that, “the member had sought to know whether a Medical Director can serve as an Executive Director, Project”
Akpabio maintained that, his response was that since 50 to 60 percent of NDDC contracts were medical-related, there was nothing wrong in a Medical Director serving in that capacity.
.
SAWABIYANews 