The most sensitive stage of the forensic audit in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) begins Thursday, November 12, 2020, when all the files relating to all contracts would move to the auditors. More auditors were recently appointed and funded directly from the presidency to quicken the process.
A statement from the Commission said the latest move would take the forensic audit to a sensitive stage whereby no file would be left at the Commission’s building.
This may mean that those hunting for the files may no longer have to trouble the NDDC building as has been the case. Some staff, mostly from Delta State office, were recently caught at the headquarters on a Saturday moving files. They were handed over to the police but nothing more was heard about it.
Now, as part of the on-going audit, the lead consultant, Olumuyiwa Basiru & Co, is set to take over the files on Thursday.
“He would take over all original contract files relating to projects and programmes awarded by the NDDC between 2001 and 2019, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari,” according to the statement issued by Charles Odili, NDDC’s director of public affairs.
“The takeover of the contract files by the Forensic Auditors will mark the commencement of the next stage of the exercise which started with the handover of contract documents covering projects captured during the verification exercise in April 2020,” the statement said.
NDDC said it was important to emphasise that the forensic audit is being carried out in phases and that the Commission is now ready to kick off the Field Forensic Audit.
“To ensure the success of this exercise, we are making available all required documents needed by the field auditors to enable them discharge their duties efficiently and effectively.
“The NDDC management will meet with the forensic auditors to formally release the files which have been sorted in 16 lots as segmented for the forensic exercise.
“We wish to inform the public that all contract files are no longer in the office of the Acting Executive Director Projects as they are now in the custody of the auditors,” it said.
