Missing N183bn: 'My hands are clean' - says NDDC boss

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dan Abia, has dismissed allegation that N183billion is missing from the account of the commission.

Abia, who was fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday, August after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities of the commission, said the claim is untrue.

The special periodic check report of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, has claimed that N183.7 billion is unaccounted for by the commission.

The Auditor-General of the Federation, Samuel Ukura, had insisted that his office stood by the report and directed those not satisfied, to be prepared to defend their position before a special committee of the National Assembly.

Abia, however said that he was not the Managing Director of the NDDC during the period that the Auditor General referred to in his allegation.

"We briefed the president on our mandate. As far as the audited account of the NDDC is concerned, how many of us know that the audited account under under reference refers to 2008 to 2012.

"I was not the managing director then. Let's get that fact clear. In principle, I came to brief Mr President proper.

'Let me assure you that even by the admission of the Auditor-General, no N180 billion is missing.because Advanced Payment Guarantee (APG), as you know, is governed by advanced payment directives.

"Office of the Auditor General is a government agency, whatever clarification, we shall engage the office and proper record will be strengthened.

"I said that even before the president, no N180b is missing.’’

The Director General also dismissed the allegation of contract splitting being leveled against the commission.

"Let me also tell you that I cannot be a party to contract splitting. NDDC is a very unique institution; we have a budgeting process.

"Those people that are now crying, where were they when NDDC was not having project up till the end of the year?’’ he queried.