…..insists ex-MD, Nunieh has no NYSC certificate
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Monday, accused the House of Representatives Committee currently investigating financial mismanagement in the Niger Delta Development Commission, of bullying him.
The Committee is currently grilling Akpabio as the supervising minister of the NDDC.
The investigative hearing is currently going on at the Conference Room 231 of the House.
Earlier, the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, had collapsed while being grilled by the lawmakers.
But when the hearing resumed, the committee Chairman, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, asked the minister if the three major projects he had carried out had the approval of the Federal Executive Council.
Akpabio, who was interrupted while answering the question, said, “Mr Chairman, the condition, where we are in now, does not require bullying, with due respect.”
But Tunji-Ojo responded, “We are not bullying you, honourable minister. Answer the question directly. You know you are my leader. An uncommon leader.”
Akpabio also said the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Joy Nunieh, failed to participate in the mandatory one year service of the National Youth Service Corps.
He also told the House of Representatives Committee investigating financial mismanagement in the NDDC that the ex-managing director had no exemption letter.
Asked about his alleged fracas with Nunieh, the minister said, “The former Managing Director of the NDDC was relieved of her appointment when I received a letter from the then Chief of Staff (may his soul respect in peace) that she did not possess the requisite qualifications to be there.
“For instance, we have written twice to the National Youth Service Corps and twice they have insisted that she never served and that she does not have an NYSC certificate or an exception.”
Akpabio added that among other reasons, Nunieh was sacked due to insubordination.
