President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mr Effiong Akwa, as the interim administrator for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), spokesman Femi Adesina said on Saturday.
Mr Akwa is the Commission’s Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration.
He is expected to assume leadership of the NDDC until the completion of the forensic audit ordered by the President.
President Buhari ordered a forensic audit of the NDDC in October 2019 following persistent allegations of financial misappropriation within the development agency.
In February 2020, BizWatch Nigeria had reported that President Buhari appointed Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, as Acting Managing Director of the NDDC.
Pondei has been under investigation over allegations of misconduct. During a committee hearing in July 2020, Pondei fainted thereby stalling the hearing.
BizWatch Nigeria recalls that arlier this month, a Federal High Court in Abuja had granted an order restraining the Managing Director of NDDC, Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, Mr Cairo Ojougboh, Dr Joi Nunieh and others from performing the functions of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC).
Mr Akwa’s appointment is expected to fill in the gap created by the legal restrictions, Mr Adesina said.
The new interim NDDC Chief is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
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