Corruption scandal hits North East Development Commission, N100b disappears

A non governmental group,has raised alarm against massive corrupt practices allegedly being perpetuated by the management of the newly established North East Development Commission (NEDC).

The group, Coalition of New of New Nigeria Transparency and Anti-Corruption (CNNTAC), also allegedly accused the Managing Director of the Commission, Mohammed Goni Alkali of high handedness, disregard for due process and the rule of law in the award of contracts running into billions

To this end, the group has called on the Presidency and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, to quickly intervene by probing the Commission without delay as delay would ruin the objectives setting up the Commission.

The NEDC was established by President Buhari in 2017, It was charged with the responsibility of coordinating funds accruing from the Federation account and donor Agencies for purpose of rehabilitating and resettling victims of insurgency, reconstruction of homes and Infrastructural development, tackling poverty and illiteracy in the North East States of Adamawa, Bauchi,Borno,Taraba and Yobe. The President inaugurated the board of NEDC on May 8,2019,

The group in a statement signed by its Secretary,Tijani Umar on Thursday alleged that N100billion disbursed to the Commission under a year, vanished without any significant impact on the refugees

The group also alleged that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar Farouk,in a deal with Alkali,out of/the scope of operation, and recourse to the board, took N5billion recently to purchase vehicles for the military saying they have prove of the alleged improprieties of the Commission.

The group said,’” We are in possession of other documents showing the purchases of choice properties by close staff and associates of the MD in highbrow neighbourhoods of Abuja, Kaduna and Maiduguri, which can be traced to over -inflated and non-existent contracts.

“Another massive corruption scheme is on the verge of being implemented in the name of of a housing scheme in Maiduguri without the board”s knowledge and approval.

“About N5billion has allegedly been spent on Covid-19 supplies without approval of the board The MD single- handedly took care of all the coronavirus supplies, there is massive contract splitting in the commission the group asserted.”

There is massive internal displacement in the North East as a result of activities of the Boko Haram insurgents The insurgents destroyed houses, churches, business premises, farmlands, and schools.