NDDC probe: Senate grants panel four weeks extension

The Senate on Tuesday granted a four-week extension to its ad hoc committee handling the investigation of the alleged mismanagement of N40bn by the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The Chairman of the panel, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, had raised a point of order, drawing the attention of his colleagues to the need to extend the initial one month period of investigation with additional weeks.

Adetunmbi had said the COVID-19 lockdown in the country had prevented his panel to receive written memorandum from affected stakeholders.

He said only a few of them had responded as of the deadline for the submission of the written explanation on Monday, June 8.

However, after a review of Adetunmbi’s proposal, the Senate granted his panel one month extension.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, asked the panel to remain focused and avoid distractions “because of the sensitive nature of the matter”, which he said was generating national interest.

Details later…