Senate Challenges NDDC Over Alleged N20m Palliatives

Nigeria’s Senate on Tuesday challenged the Executive Director Projects of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh to publicly name the Senators that allegedly got N20million each as COVID-19 palliative.

Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Ajibola Basiru (Osun Central) made the call in a statement in Abuja, the Nation reported on Tuesday.

Basiru denied that no Senator “collected the sum of N20 million or any sum whatsoever from NDDC as COVID-19 relief fund of for any purpose whatsoever.”

He called on Ojougboh to publicly provide evidence of his claim and list the names of the Senators he allegedly gave the sum.

Basiru said: “The Senate views with grave concern a statement credited to Dr Cairo Ojougboh, the Executive Director, Projects of the NDDC who alleged that National Assembly members received varying sums of money as COVID -19 palliative.

“The Senate hereby disclaims the allegation in its entirety.

“The Senate categorically denies that any Senator collected the sum of N20 million or any sum whatsoever from NDDC as COVID -19 relief fund of for any purpose whatsoever.

“The Senate challenges Dr Ojougboh to publicly provide evidence of his claim and list the names of the Senators he allegedly gave the alleged sum.

“Failure to provide evidence of his claim, the Senate hereby demands immediate retraction and public apology from Dr Cairo Ojougboh.”