Senator James Manager representing Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has denied allegations of benefitting from NDDC contracts during and after his time as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, had in a letter addressed to Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, named Manager as one of the lawmakers who got six NDDC contracts.
Read Also: Akpabio Names Lawmakers Who Got NDDC Contracts
Akpabio also listed the name of former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on the NDDC, Nicholas Mutu, receiving 74 projects.
As well as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, with 53 projects, which included emergency repairs of Asue Street, Owa Phase 2; ldumuogbe Road via Ojemaye; Otolokpo College Road, Otolokpo; and the Police lshu Ani Ukwu Road, Issele Uku.
Other lawmakers that Akpabio listed projects against their names are Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo-South), six; James Manager (Delta-South), six; Samuel Anyanwu (Imo-West, 8th Senate), 19; and others simply identified as Ondo and Edo Reps.
However, in a statement released on Monday July 27, Manager denied the claim and has threatened to take legal action.
His statement reads;
I sincerely wish to react as follows: That my tenure as chairman of Niger Delta Committee in the Senate effectively ended in 2015. That ever since then I have never visited NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt or any of its branches.
That NDDC never awarded any contract to any company owned by me. That I do not know of any company owned by me, that has ever gone into bidding for government jobs anywhere in the world. This may come to many as a surprise but that is the gospel truth.
Those who are alleging to defame me must be aware of the consequences. That in the interest of the gullible innocent public, the authors led by the said Dr. Cairo Ojougboh or any other person should provide among other things the following please;
(A) detailed description of the said jobs. (B) names of companies (C) payments already made and to whom? (D) job performance (E) The Directors as they appear in the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
That I sincerely in the name God request for proof of evidence. This is a very simple minimum demand.
