Uduaghan denies link with NDDC contracts

Former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has denied any link with contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

A newspaper report had quoted Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to have linked Uduaghan and another former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, with contracts awarded by the embattled commission.

But in a swift response contained in  statement by Uduaghan’s spokesperson, Monoyo Edon, on Monday, the former governor described the publication as false. He said he expects Akpabio to make a correction.

“The attention of His Excellency, former Gov of Delta State Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has been drawn to a publication by The Punch Newspapers of Monday 3rd August 2020, which stated that the ‘Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has linked two former governors of Delta State, Messrs James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan, to the various contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission’,” the statement said.

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“In the said publication, it was stated that ‘Uduaghan was linked to the emergency repairs of Close B, Alhaji Estate & Environs, Rumuodomaya, Port Harcourt at a cost of N429m.’

“We want to state very clearly that the said accusation is FALSE. Dr. Uduaghan has never approached the NDDC for any contract whatsoever. It is even more ridiculous that the said contract is a road inside Port Harcourt town.

“Dr. Uduaghan has drawn the attention of the Hon. Minister of the Niger Delta, Sen Godswill Akpabio to the publication and hopes he makes a correction.

“Members of the public are advised to disregard the mischievous publication.”