The heat is on at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as the forensic audit of the commission ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari has started taking casualties.

Key staff of the commission allegedly fingered or linked to contracts and other issues under investigation have been placed on mandatory leave pending the conclusion of the audit exercise.

A statement by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Charles Odili said the affected staff were, however, placed on mandatory leave with full benefits pending the conclusion and outcome of the on-going forensic audit.

According to Odili, “the action is based on the advice of the Lead Consultant on the Forensic Audit exercise, which has been accepted by the Interim Management Committee (IMC)”.

The statement further disclosed that the staff sent on mandatory leave fall into three categories:

1. Those indicted by security agencies like the Nigeria Police, Independent Corrupt Practice and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for acts of impropriety

2. Those whose acts are the subject of investigations by the forensic auditors.

3. Those who held key and sensitive positions in the commission during the period covered by the forensic audit and whose continued presence in the Commission will interfere, impair, undermine or compromise the objective forensic auditing of the affairs of the commission.

The commission’s spokesman added that the mandatory leave takes immediate effect and the affected staff have already been notified.