The Senate through its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has  summoned the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana over alleged plot to siphon N480 billion belonging to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The committee also insisted that the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar must re – appear before it over physical assault meted to a security guard, Clement Shargwak in Abuja in March 2021.

Summoning of the minister who is expected to appear before the committee on the 10th of November, 2022, followed a petition written against him by an insider in NDDC on alleged plot to siphon N480 billion intervention fund domiciled in CBN.

Addressing journalists, Wednesday on behalf of the entire members of the committee, the chairman, Senator Ayo Akinyelure (PDP Ondo Central) said Niger Delta Affairs Minister as  clearly stated in the petition,  has allegedly  perfected plans to seek presidential approval to collect the money on the guise that the money would be spent on special projects.

He said several other allegations were  levelled against him among which is his refusal to forward two annual budgets of the NDDC (2021 and 2022) to the National Assembly for approval while money are been spent by the commission on the orders of the minister therefore taken the power of appropriations to himself.

He added that  minister is also being  summoned to explain why he sacked over one hundred NDDC staff on assumption of office aside plotting to sack the current NDDC Sole Administrator,  Effiong Akwa who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari and have him replaced by one of his cronies.