A socio-political group, Niger Delta Reawakening Network, has risen in defence of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Usani U. Usani, over revelations that he was indicted by a government white paper for alleged fraudulent contract when he served as commissioner of water resources in Cross River State.
The group, in a press statement yesterday, described the allegations against the minister as ridiculous saying the basis of the story circulated by some online platforms was “outdated.”
According to the group, the matter has since been resolved as the
Cross River State government had since 2001 written to the Code of Conduct Bureau to withdraw the matter which, according to the group, was initiated on wrong premise.
The statement signed by Barrister Henry Martins alleged that those circulating the documents indicating the minister’s indictment were members of a cabal that are not happy with Usani’s “uncompromising stance” in handling the affairs of the Niger Delta region.
To support its claim, the group made available to newsmen a letter titled: “Withdrawal of matters referred to the Code of Conduct Tribunal Arising from Cross River State Government white paper on the report of the financial impropriety verification standing committee (official document No. 5 of 2000).”
