Immediate-past governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has denied reports that he received contract from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
A national newspaper had reported that the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio linked the former governor and his uncle, James Ibori to various contracts by the NDDC. The reports had alleged that Uduaghan received the emergency repairs of Close B, Alhaji Estate & environs, Rumuodomaya, Port Harcourt at a cost of N429 million.
But in statement on Monday by his media aide Monoyo Edon, the former governor said that the allegation was false as he never approached the NDDC for any contract.
The National Assembly is probing the minister, alongside the interim management committee of the NDDC for alleged illegal spending and mismanagement of the commission’s resources.
Read the full statement below:
The attention of His Excellency, former Gov of Delta State Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has been drawn to a publication by The Punch Newspapers of Monday 3rd August 2020, which stated that the “Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has linked two former governors of Delta State, Messrs James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan, to the various contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission”.
In the said publication, it was stated that “Uduaghan was linked to the emergency repairs of Close B, Alhaji Estate & Environs, Rumuodomaya, Port Harcourt at a cost of N429m.”
We want to state very clearly that the said accusation is FALSE. Dr. Uduaghan has never approached the NDDC for any contract whatsoever. It is even more ridiculous that the said contract is a road inside Port Harcourt town.
Dr. Uduaghan has drawn the attention of the Hon. Minister of the Niger Delta, Sen Godswill Akpabio to the publication and hopes he makes a correction.
Members of the public are advised to disregard the mischevious publication.
Monoyo Edon,
Media Assistant to His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, CON, the Immediate Past Governor of Delta State.