NDAF has given Senator Ekpenyong 72 hours to respond to the allegations, warning that failure to do so may compel them to invoke the Freedom of Information Act to demand full disclosure.
By TheInvestigator
The Niger Delta Activists Forum (NDAF) has issued a strong demand for accountability from Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong over allegations that he hijacked a ₦100 million Christmas bonus fund allocated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for 50 groups in Cross River State.
The controversy began when Otuekong Orok Otu Duke, the Cross River State Representative in the NDDC Governing Board, was accused of misappropriating the funds. In response, Duke denied the allegations and instead accused Senator Ekpenyong of taking control of the funds without his involvement.
“The Commission earmarked ₦100 million for distribution to 50 groups in Cross River State, with each group expected to receive ₦2 million. Unfortunately, this project was hijacked by the Senator representing the Southern Senatorial District, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who took control of the funds without consulting me as the state representative, “Duke stated.
NDAF, a leading advocacy group in the Niger Delta, has expressed concern over Senator Ekpenyong’s silence since these allegations surfaced. The organization stressed that the funds were meant for the entire state, not just the Southern Senatorial District, and called for transparency.
In its press statement, NDAF posed several critical questions:
– Who currently holds the ₦100 million?
– How were the funds distributed?
– Who are the beneficiaries?
While the group clarified that it is not directly accusing the senator of financial misconduct, it insisted on the need for accountability. NDAF has given Senator Ekpenyong 72 hours to respond to the allegations, warning that failure to do so may compel them to invoke the Freedom of Information Act to demand full disclosure.
The call for transparency has intensified public scrutiny on the handling of NDDC funds in Cross River State, with stakeholders eagerly awaiting the senator’s response.