By CHARLES IWUOHA

A non-governmental organisation, the Southern Nigeria Peoples Mandate (SNPM), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to set-up a judicial panel of inquiry into alleged huge financial misappropriation in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

President of the group, Mr. Augustine Chukwudum, made the call in a statement issued to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday while reacting to the alleged financial misappropriation in the commission.

Chukwudum noted that the judicial panel of inquiry should investigate in-depth the management of NDDC, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and members of house of representatives, who were accused by the minister of getting contract from the commission.

“We are making this clarion call on President Buhari because Nigerians have lost confidence with the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC that is probing the alleged looting. They cannot be a judge in a case where they are directly involved and have serious questions to answer,” he said.

The SNPM boss noted that it was regrettable to see the level of infrastructure decay and non-availability of social amenities in the Niger Delta region despite trillions of naira pumped into the commission.

“It is also regrettable that some sons and daughters of the region were appointed to better the living condition of their people, instead they are allegedly busy looting. And depriving the people of their developmental right,” he lamented.

Chukwudum noted that it was time for Buhari to prove to the world that his anti-corruption war was never selective, adding: “That is why he must sack the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and NDDC management.

“We also commend Comrade Chris Ekiyor who exposed the alleged looting going on in the NDDC. We want to assure Ekiyor that every Nigeria is standing behind you and we are really proud of you as a great hero,” he added.

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