Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio is in hot soup.

The Senate’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has summoned him and the Sole Administrator of Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr. Effiong Akwa, over non-payment of N2.2bn to contractors.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure said:

“It should not be business as usual. Akpabio and the NDDC Sole Administrator must appear before the Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee, failure of which will lead to issuance of warrant of arrest on them.”

“The committee wants to believe that as far as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs is concerned, breakdown in communication must have caused his non-appearance before the committee because as a senator he should know the implication of that.”

“This press briefing is being done to solve the perceived communication breakdown between the committee and his office. If our letters are not delivered to him, he will read and hear about the invitation in the media.”

“Aside from the N2.2bn contract yet to be paid to the seven companies by NDDC, there is an outstanding of N6.25bn contracts yet to be paid to affected companies and a N2.5bn job racketeering scandal.”