The Niger Delta Liberators and Ex Agitators Forum (NDLEF) has called for the investigation of the activities of Dennis Otuaro, the special adviser to the president on Niger Delta affairs and coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), over alleged misappropriation of funds.
The NDLEF, in the petition, called on the EFCC to investigate the award of contracts to moribund companies, money laundering and misappropriation of over 50 billion naira of public funds meant for the development of the Nigeria Delta region.
The group led by its convener, Odey Otunu, stated these on Friday at a press briefing in Abuja.
According to him, “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 important discovery in their investigation is that they discovered 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 stakeholder meetings only.”
He further said “On July 10, 2024, the office of the special adviser to the President of Niger Delta 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 10, 2024, the office of the special adviser to the president on Niger Delta 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 June 2024 with payment reference 1001194577-19 and Payer Code: 0111002002.
“On July 17, 2024, the office of the special adviser to the president of 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 called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, 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.
