DOUGLAS ABOMA
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Scott Tommey, one of the contractors with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Tommey was arrested in connection with the misappropriation of the N80 billion Covid19 intervention fund.
An alleged cohort, bribe collector and money laundering to a former Minister and a member of the All Progressives Congress party, Tommey was arrested to explain his role on how the money suddenly grew wings into private pockets and not used for what it was earmarked to do.
Although he has been released on administrative bail, he is expected to make regular visits to the anti graft agency as investigation into the matter. His phones were reportedly seized according to sources for forensics and data gathering.
Tommey, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State has been on the radar of the EFCC for a while using his company, Osmoserve Global LTD to perpetuate fraud.
Before his arrest, Ardo Babayo Kumo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Niger Delta, was arrested earlier in the month by EFCC for misappropriating the sum of N5 billion.
His arrest happened shortly after he failed to secure the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ticket to run for the governorship election of Gombe State while still in government employ, thus, violating the civil service rule.
Similarly, in May, the EFCC arrested Nsima Ekere, a former managing director of the Commission for alleged diversion of funds to the tune of N47 billion through registered contractors of the agency, one of whom is Tommey.
To say that the stench of corruption emanating from the NDDC perpetrated by insiders through their cronies is alarming, one of whom is Tommy, would be just putting it mildly.
Recall that early last year, President Muhammadu Bubari had ordered a forensic audit of the NDDC following reports of monumental fraud perpetuated by successive administrators of the Commission.
The essence of the forensic audit was to ensure probity and accountability in the use of public funds.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami noted that the FederalGovernment approved about six trillion naira for the NDDC in the last 18 years.
He, however, decried that the bulk of the funds the Commission received for the development of the Niger Delta region, was diverted into private pockets, noting that execution of 13,777 projects were substantially compromised.
With the completion of the forensics audit on the Commission, not only are more heads expected to roll, more prominent contractors are likely to be picked up by the EFCC for the various roles they played in the compromise if the supposed development of the Niger Delta region.
