By Paul Nyambi
Abuse of oversight functions by Asququo Ekpenyong, Jnr and cornering of NDDC empowerment programme for personal agrandizement: Corruption in the full glare of the public
– Paul Nyambi, Esq
I have noticed with dismay, the cornering of NDDC empowerment programme by Asuquo Ekpenyong, Jnr, a Senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
By virtue of his position, Mr Ekpenyong ordinarily ought to play the role of checks on the NDDC to ensure the proper and effective implementation of its programmes for the Year and not to hobnob with an agency he weilds legislative oversight functions thereto.
Section 88 subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)
empowers each House of the National Assembly to direct or cause investigations into:
“Any matter within its legislative competence, and
the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministry, or government department charged with administering laws or disbursing public funds.”
Emphasis in the instant Case is “disturbing of public funds” by the NDDC for which Ekpenyong is empowered to perform oversight functions as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the NDDC.
In the typical Nigerian corrupt system of doing things, the youthful Senator leveraged on his oversight powers and cornered the NDDC empowerment programme for his political aggrandizement.
One is left wondering why a Senator and one who is Chairman of the Senate Committee over the NDCC should be in bed with the very agency he ought to scrutinize and ensure transparency in the implementation of its budget.
Desperate for a second term in office, he turned the NDDC empowerment programme as a tool for his political campaign.
I am particularly disappointed at the audacity and impunity of the young Senator who doubles as a personal Aide to Senator Godswill Akpabio.
As a vocal advocate of youth participation in politics who holds the young politician in high esteem, I condemn in totality the brazen impunity of the NDDC acting in connivance with the desperate young politician.
This is full scale corruption and the culprits here are the NDDC and Asuquo Ekpenyong, Jnr.
I have read various attempts by the NDDC and the media Aides of Ekpenyong to justify the unholy alliance which is clearly a futile attempt to deceive the gullible public.
It is sad that our corrupt politicians in government are already mentoring their successors to take over from them and continue with the already institutionalized Corruption in Nigeria.
In the light of the foregoing, as a public spirited individual and public Rights Campaigner, I have issued a request for records and information to the Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 to ascertain the true and correct position of the NDDC programme hijacked by Ekpenyong for his Constituents.
Upon the response by the appropriate agency, I shall consider the next line of action.
This brazen corruption must be challenged.
Paul Nyambi is a Nigerian Lawyer and public Rights Campaigner based in England, United Kingdom.
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