NDDC forensic audit a fluke, says ex-Acting MD

By Tony Akowe, Abuja

Former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Joi Nuniel, has alleged the much talked about forensic audit of the Commission was a fluke packaged to deceive Nigerians.

She said it was yet to take off because auditors to carry out the exercise have not been appointed.

Nuniel, who gave evidence before the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta investigating financial dealings of the commission through zoom from her Port Harcourt base, said no credible forensic auditor has been appointed despite huge financial payment committed to the exercise by the Interim Management Committee (IMC).

She alleged the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has wanted from the word go to take control of the forensic audit.

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She pointed out her refusal to allow the Minister have his way was one of the reasons she was removed from office.

When asked to speak on the forensic audit by the Chairman of the Committee, for which the IMC was constituted, Nunieh said: “When I was there, I was the one who prepared all the documents for the forensic audit and sent in the applications.

“The first thing was for us to go through the procurement of the lead consultant. Many people have clearly misunderstood the procurement of the lead consultant.

“But because I did not want any illegality and the forensic audit to be discredited, I, with the help of big consultants, came up with the terms of reference for these auditors. The lead consultant that everyone is talking about is not the forensic auditor.

“When all the forensic auditors have gotten all the data and reports from fields, they will put them together and give to the lead consultant who will put them together in a report. That is just his role. He is not the one to carry out any forensic audit.”