A popular Nigerian pastor has blasted National Assembly for stopping the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio from spilling beans during the public hearing investigating alleged financial malfeasance of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
In a short video that has gone viral, Rev. Ntia Ntia, the senior Pastor of Full Life Christian Centre, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria was unhappy that the House of Representatives probe panel did not allow the minister to mention members involved in alleged corruption of NDDC.
Akpabio who appeared before the probe panel Monday to answer questions on the accusations of purported mismanagement of NDDC allegedly declared that 60 per cent of the projects were handled by the members, but was barred by the acting chairman of the committee from mentioning names linked with the jobs
“When the minister came in and noticed that they wanted to make him scapegoat (as if he was the person who chops), he wanted to open the file, they said “It is okay. It is okay. Off the mic, Hon. Minister,” he said.
Ntia bombed “Woe to witchcraft!”
Feeling their integrity had been dented, the House of Representatives passed a resolution and gave the Minister 48 hours to mention the members or face the wrath of the house.
After the expiration of the 48 hours, the House passed a resolution to sue the Minister for defamation and perjury but directed the Clerk of the House to handle the matter.
However, Akpabio had sent a letter to Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and he acknowledged it at plenary and forwarded to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for study and recommendation.
The minister is said to have explained that he referred to some members who were awarded jobs by the past board while others who got constituency projects were yet to be paid since the budget of the Interim Management Committee for this year was not yet approved.
