Alleged NDDC Fraud: EFCC Reveals Evidence Against Ex-Delta Rep, Nicholas Mutu

• Alleged NDDC fraud: EFCC reveals evidence against ex-Delta Rep, Nicholas Mutu

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Nicholas Mutu, the ex-chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), continued his fraud trial on Wednesday.

Adamu Yusuf, a member of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was the fourth prosecution witness to resume his cross-examination.

Mutu is in front of Justice F. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, answering accusations.

Mutu, together with Airworld Technologies Ltd and Airworld Technologies Ltd, is accused of receiving remuneration in exchange for influencing an NDDC contract.

The contract was for the collection of statutory levies from oil and gas companies in the South-South region.

Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, E. I. Ikwueto and J.O Asoluka, Yusuf revealed EFCC’s evidence against the defendant.

The detective said investigation established that Mutu used his companies to obtain bribe from Starline Consulting Ltd; the proceeds were used to acquire properties.

He told the court that Starline Consultancy Ltd recovered more than N100billion as remittance from the oil and gas companies in the Niger Delta.

The second defendant, Airworld Technologies Ltd, not part of the contract’s execution, was paid N320,159,689, while the third defendant, Airworld Technologies Ltd, received N80million.

More funds were disbursed into the accounts of private companies and individuals, including Forest Shippers Ltd, where Ebomo is a director.

Yusuf further disclosed that Starline Consultancy Ltd employed the services of Tareb Consultancy Ltd for the collection of levies from the oil and gas coys.

Investigation found that the accounting firm remitted more than N700million.

“Mutu, in an attempt to cover up, contacted Tareb Consultancy Ltd to procure and forge documents and invoices to show that contracts were awarded and payments made to his companies.

“Unfortunately the letterheads, addresses, website and some features on these documents did not correspond with the ones submitted during the forfeiture process and those that reflected the payment process”, he said.

Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo adjourned the hearing until February 2 and 3, 2022.

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