Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has denied accusing members of the National Assembly of getting most of the contracts at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The minister, earlier in the week, was reported to have accused lawmakers of being most of the contract beneficiaries at the commission.
He was said to have levelled the accusation during the probe of alleged financial mismanagement of N40billion. The allegation led the House of Representatives to issue an ultimatum demanding he publish the alleged beneficiaries or face legal action.
But in a letter he wrote to the house and read at during plenary at the low legislative chamber, the former Akwa Ibom State governor denied making such accusation.
The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who announced the receipt of Akpabio’s response, said the minister claimed to have referred to old contracts awarded by the NDDC which had not been paid for and some of which are part of the constituency projects of the lawmakers.
Gbajabiamila said Akpabio’s response would be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to look at the merits of the minister’s arguments.
