BEVERLY HILLS, June 09, (THEWILL) – 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 saying only a few of them had responded as of the deadline for the submission of the written explanation on Monday, June 8.
THEWILL recalls that on May 5, the senate passed a resolution to probe the alleged mismanagement of N40 billion by the interim management and gave the ad hoc panel four weeks to submit its report.
Speaking on the floor of the senate on Tuesday, Adetunbi said: “I’m glad to inform you that just a few days ago, we started receiving the responses from these stakeholders that will provide information to the committee.
“Just a few days ago, the responses of these stakeholders started to come in for the first time last week. This week we will receive as much information that the committee will need to do it’s work.
“For this reason I would like to seek the indulgence of the senate for an extension of time to enable us to receive all the information and documents that we need for the committee to be able to do a thorough job that has been given to us. I would like to seek extension for six weeks.”
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.
“Part of the distractions are a series of write-ups in the media by the vested groups almost on a daily basis but unfortunately all these cannot stop the senate from forging ahead with an assignment backed by resolution and firmly within the ambit of its constitutional responsibilities.
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“So, in their own interest, the earlier they stop the distractions the better, because our committee will forge ahead with the assignment.”
