Senate queries Customs over power equipment

Jonathan submits NDDC board listTHE Senate Committee on Power yesterday ordered the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to retrieve 17 containers-load of electrical equipment meant for the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) alleged to have been sold.Also, the panel asked the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to explain why the containers stayedin the Nigerian port for such long time before they were eventually sold.The chairman of the committee, Philip Aduda, who gave the charge during a meeting with Nigeria Custom Service yesterday, said there was no justification for the act committed by the Customs.The committee alsodirected the NCS and the NIPP Managing Director, Mr. James Olotu who tendered two different documents bearing separate names and addresses of the buyers to reconcile their positions on the matter.Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has forwarded names of nomineesfor membership ofthe Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the Senate for confirmation.One prominent name in the new board is a former senator representing Kogi West in the Upper Chamber, Tunde Ogbeha, as a member of the Commission representing North Central, the non-oil producing areas.Other nominees include Dr. Tariah Tebepah (Bayelsa) as Chairman, Senator Yakubu Lado (Katsina), Dr. Christian Obo (Rivers) as Managing Director and Mr. L.E.J. Kobanye (Delta) as Executive Director, Finance and Administration.Others are Mr. Edward Orubo, member, representing Bayelsa; Dr. IbitamunoM. Aminigo, member, representing Rivers; Chief Solomon Ogba (Delta); Imaobong Johnson (Akwa Ibom); Edikan Eshett Eshett (Executive Director, Projects, Akwa Ibom); Peter Ezeobi (Imo), Dominic Aqua Edem (Cross River); Aloysius Nwagboso (Abia); Mr. Omogbemi O. Oladele (Ondo) and Mr. Osahon Imaru (Edo).Other nominees representing non-oil mineral producing areas include Senator Garba Yakubu Lado (North West), Rima Shawulu Kwewum (North East) and Ogbeha (North Central).The President also nominated Mr. Joe Jakpa to represent the oil producing companies.Meanwhile, appalled by the handling of prison matters by the Federal Government, the Senate yesterday began moves that might culminate in the removal of prison matters from the concurrent list of the Constitution.Senator Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi (representing Kwara North) moved a motion at the commencement of sitting yesterday, drawing the attention of the chamber to the plight of persons awaiting trial in Nigerian prisons.
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