Alleged Corruption: NDPHC, MD Debunk SR Report, Threaten Legal Action

The Niger Delta Power Holding, NDPHC, has described as false and baseless, a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that its (NDPHC) boss, Jennifer Adighije, was involved in reckless spending and corruption.

The company said Adighije considered the allegation as “a dubious and ill‑intended attempt to smear her person and mislead well‑meaning Nigerians who, through the Federal and State Governments, are shareholders in NDPHC.”

The denial of the allegations is contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Head, Corporate and External Communications, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Emmanuel Ojor.

While calling on the public to discountenance the allegations against NDPHC and its MD, the company stressed its commitment to transparency, accountability and constructive engagement with the public.

The MD was quoted as warning that she would not hesitate to exercise her fundamental rights — including seeking legal redress — against any media platform that might publish demonstrably false allegations against her without affording her a fair opportunity to respond.

She therefore called on Sahara Reporters to withdraw the story against her.

The statement reads in full:

NIGER DELTA POWER HOLDING CO LTD: REBUTTAL TO SAHARA REPORTERS STORY ON NDPHC MANAGING DIRECTOR

Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has noted with deep concern a story published by Sahara Reporters on 29 November 2025 titled: “Niger Delta Company Boss, Jennifer Adighije Accused of Reckless Spendings, Corruption as Staff Petition EFCC, Presidency.” The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, considers the publication a dubious and ill‑intended attempt to smear her person and mislead well‑meaning Nigerians who, through the Federal and State Governments, are shareholders in NDPHC.

It is particularly surprising that Sahara Reporters (SR) did not uphold the basic principles of fair hearing and objective journalism by contacting the Managing Director or the Company for clarification before publishing these premeditated and nefarious allegations. Engr. Adighije remains readily accessible and operates an open‑door policy. By failing to seek her side of the story, SR appears to have allowed itself to be used by individuals who are clearly uncomfortable with the courageous leadership and reforms currently being implemented in NDPHC.

In order to prevent misinformation among the Nigerian public, NDPHC staff, customers and partners, this rebuttal responds concisely and factually to the issues raised in the Sahara Reporters article, in the order in which they appeared.

1. ON ALLEGATIONS OF MISMANAGEMENT, RECKLESS SPENDING AND “ZERO MEGAWATTS”

The general allegation of “massive corruption, reckless spending” and that NDPHC has “not added a single megawatt” under the current Managing Director is false, misleading and ignores both the statutory mandate of the Company and the sector realities of the Nigerian electricity market.

Since her assumption of office, Engr. Adighije has focused on bold and necessary reforms to:

Optimize the performance of the Company assets to ramp up revenue while curtailing excessive and unjustified expenditure within the Company;

Enhance NDPHC’s liquidity by aggressively pursuing the recovery of the monumental debts owed to the Company for energy already delivered;

Optimize internal processes to drive operational efficiency;

Leveraging technology to enhance the productivity of the workforce to transform the Company’s performance to the benefit of the Nigerian people.

It is therefore doubtful that the so‑called petitioners are genuine workers of NDPHC who are conversant with the Company’s achievements and priorities. NDPHC personnel are also clearly aware that adding new generation capacity is not the immediate priority of NDPHC at this time, given the significant stranded capacity already available in the Company’s fleet of plants, the lack of adequate wheeling capacity in the national grid to evacuate and dispatch this power, and the hundreds of billions of Naira currently owed to NDPHC for power that has already been generated and delivered to the electricity market. The statutory mandate of NDPHC, having regard to the reasons for its creation and its current status, is clear on these priorities, which are fully aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda in the power sector.

2. ON THE ALLEGED ₦900 MILLION “25‑YEAR CELEBRATION” BUDGET

The story refers to a proposed ₦900 million budget for a “25‑Year Celebration”, describing it as a “money‑siphoning jamboree”. This allegation is mischievous and speculative.

Even by the account contained in the article, this figure is referred to as a proposed budget — that is, a draft which, if it exists at all, has not been approved. It is therefore laughable and dishonest to present an unapproved budget proposal as evidence of financial misconduct. It is also curious to understand how a 25 Year Celebration can be planned for an organization that was established in 2005. The Board of NDPHC which is chaired by His Excellency Vice President Kashim Shettima has approved a 20-year anniversary commemoration to showcase the giant strides and invaluable contribution that NDPHC has made in advancing power sector reforms. The Managing Director, known for demonstrating prudence, set up and inaugurated a planning committee to drive the event preparations of which a budget is yet to be prepared.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Managing Director cannot, and has not, unilaterally approved any such expenditure of 900 million naira for any event. To raise alarm over a figure that has not been approved, and whose details (if it exists) have not even been finalised, only confirms the ill motive behind this smear campaign.

3. ON THE ALLEGATION OF USING PRIVATE JETS FOR OFFICIAL TRIPS

The article also alleges that the Managing Director “fly’s private jets on official trips” and questions whether this reflects the mandate of the President.

As the head of a strategic national power company with critical assets spread across all geopolitical zones of the country, the Managing Director is frequently required to meet urgent operational, regulatory and stakeholder obligations in several locations within very tight timelines. On rare occasions, and only where strictly necessary, chartered or private flights have been utilised to enable her discharge these responsibilities when commercial airline schedules cannot practically accommodate the time‑sensitive nature of such official engagements.

These instances even though are few and far between, are strictly for official purposes, and remain fully within the approved operational budget of the office of the Managing Director, with the knowledge and approval of the Board. The sponsors of the story also conveniently failed to mention that Engr. Adighije has, in the same period, undertaken extensive tours of all NDPHC installations across the country, in many cases travelling long hours by road in challenging conditions, precisely to understand first‑hand the issues affecting these assets and to drive solutions. This demonstrates her level of discipline and commitment to the job.

To cherry‑pick occasional use of approved chartered flights, while concealing the far more frequent and strenuous road travels undertaken in service of the Company and the nation, further exposes the intent to sensationalise rather than inform.

4. ON ALLEGED “EXPENSIVE MEDIA CONSULTANTS”

The article makes a vague allegation about “expensive media consultants” and claims that “teams of media handlers follow her around — paid with public funds — while the company collapses internally”, without providing any details, figures or evidence.

Like every reputable organisation, NDPHC explores strategic communication and marketing avenues to explain its mandate, critical activities and business opportunities to its stakeholders and the general public. It is public knowledge that NDPHC currently sponsors a board‑approved television programme intended to enlighten Nigerians about the Company’s objectives, its projects, its eligible customer initiative and its capacity to support national development. This is particularly important because many Nigerians were previously unaware of the role, assets, opportunities and milestones associated with NDPHC.

The sponsorship and related media engagements are undertaken transparently, within approved budgets, in strict compliance with applicable regulations and industry standards. The financial records of these activities are available to the Board and relevant oversight authorities. To loosely label this as “expensive media consultants” without a single verifiable fact again underscores the ulterior motive behind the article.

5. ON ALLEGED PROMOTION EXAM MANIPULATION AND THE “SAVE OUR CAREER” PETITION

The story alleges that the Managing Director manipulated promotion examinations and “changed the promotion cut‑off marks to favour her loyalists” and references a so‑called “Save Our Career” petition to the NDPHC Board.

These claims are entirely false. The current promotion exercises within NDPHC were conceived and implemented to promote merit, professionalism, equity, fairness and career progression, in line with Engr. Adighije’s clear commitment to continuing professional development leveraging technology to improve working conditions for all staff. The guidelines for the examinations were developed through the Company’s established HR and management policy; they were not designed or altered personally by the Managing Director, nor were they intended to favour any supposed “loyalists” and the examination outcomes for the senior cadre of staff is yet to be concluded. For avoidance of doubt, no official communication by the HR department has been issued to the senior exam candidates with respect to the examination results. In the junior cadre, which has been successfully concluded and communicated to the staff, the junior staff expressed satisfaction with the outcome and therefore it is unbelievable that the senior staff who are yet to be officially informed by HR of the examination outcomes are raising alarm prematurely.

It is important to emphasise that Engr. Adighije did not work in NDPHC prior to her appointment and does not have entrenched “camps” or favourites within the workforce. Her insistence has been that the best candidates — irrespective of tribe, background or perceived alignment — should emerge through a transparent and competitive process. Understandably, those who had hoped to secure promotion through political influence or back‑door arrangements may be disgruntled by this principled stance.

It is well known that the Managing Director leverages her motherly instincts and operates an open‑door policy and is empathetic to the genuine concerns of staff. She has consistently encouraged employees to channel grievances through appropriate internal mechanisms, where they will be heard and addressed. If indeed a “Save Our Career” petition has been submitted to the Board — which is fully aware of, and approves, the key decisions that the MD is required to implement — this is welcomed as an opportunity to clarify facts, address any misunderstandings and further strengthen the integrity of the promotion process.

6. ON THE ALLEGED “₦20 MILLION DONATION SCANDAL”

The article seeks to portray an act of charity involving Nollywood actress Sarah Martins as evidence of impropriety, referring to a viral video in which the Managing Director was seen presenting a sum of ₦20 million in foreign currency, purportedly on behalf of Mr. Seyi Tinubu.

This characterisation is both unfair and inaccurate. The gesture in question was a charitable act which Engr. Adighije conveyed in her personal capacity, based on a request from friends — including, as publicly clarified, friends of Mr. Seyi Tinubu — who were moved by the circumstances surrounding the actress’s charitable activities. Mr. Tinubu himself has openly stated that he was aware of, and supportive of, efforts to assist the actress, but that the funds represented contributions from a group of his friends rather than from him personally.

At no point did the Managing Director state or imply that NDPHC funds were involved in this donation. The MD prior to attaining this position had always been a philanthropist and so the attempt to twist a private act of charity, undertaken outside her official functions, into an allegation of financial misconduct is therefore deeply damaging. As a Nigerian citizen and professional, Engr. Adighije is entitled, like every other individual, to maintain friendships and to engage in charitable activities in her personal capacity within the confines of the law.

7. ON CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION AND ATTEMPTS TO SMEAR THE MD AND NDPHC

The so called petition, as reported, concludes with sweeping claims of “Zero Impact. Zero Value. Zero Megawatts” and calls on the EFCC and the Presidency to investigate NDPHC under the current leadership.

These exaggerated assertions ignore the concrete steps already being taken under Engr. Adighije’s leadership to reposition the Company, recover huge outstanding debts, restructure legacy obligations, improve plant availability and output where the grid can take it, expand eligible customer arrangements, and enhance internal governance and accountability. Far from “collapsing internally”, NDPHC is undergoing necessary reforms that are uncomfortable for those who benefitted from past inefficiencies and leakages.

It is therefore not surprising that some of these vested interests — threatened by the MD’s determination to stop excessive and unjustified spending, to enforce discipline in financial and operational processes, and to hold people accountable for performance — would resort to sponsoring petitions and media attacks in an attempt to tarnish her reputation for selfish, nefarious and unpatriotic reasons.

Engr. Adighije fully supports lawful oversight and is confident that any fair and objective inquiry by the appropriate authorities, based on facts and records rather than anonymous accusations, will vindicate her administration and the diligent staff of NDPHC.

8. APPEAL TO NIGERIANS AND ADVISORY TO THE MEDIA

Considering the foregoing, the Managing Director of NDPHC strongly appeals to well‑meaning Nigerians, the Company’s staff, customers, partners and other stakeholders to disregard the spurious allegations contained in the Sahara Reporters story and similar sponsored publications by faceless detractors.

She equally admonishes Sahara Reporters and other media organisations to reflect on the recent admonition by the President to the media at the Guild of Editors conference not to allow themselves to be used against the government or its institutions for ulterior motives, but to uphold the highest standards of objectivity, balance and fair reporting in their operations.

9. CONCLUSION

The suggestion that there is “zero impact” is not only unfounded but regrettable when the MD’s achievements are widely published. While systemic challenges in the power sector persist, NDPHC under the current leadership has made significant strides in stabilizing operations and positioning the company for sustainable growth. Some of her notable achievements 1 year in office include (amongst several others):

1. Assets recovery: Recovery of 110 containers worth over 5 million USD containing critical turbine parts, HRSG parts and other materials that had been abandoned at Onne port for over 9 years
2. Recouping investments: Advanced discussions with NERC on recouping NDPHC’s investments in enhancing TCN’s Transmission grid expansion plan
3. Plant assets restoration: In 1 year, 6 nos. gas turbines across the fleet that were dormant have been restored (GT4 – Calabar NIPP, GT1 – Omotosho II, GT1&2 – Benin NIPP, GT3&4 – Alaoji NIPP); Totalling about 750MW added to the power generation mechanical availability
4. Debt recovery: Recovery of over 10 million USD from bilateral customers in legacy debts
5. Enhanced procurement: Establishing a price benchmarking desk for streamlining procurement to promote compliance with public procurement act 2007
6. Leveraging technology: Introduction of Computer Based Test CBT to foster transparency and implemented to promote merit, professionalism, equity, fairness in staff career progression
7. Improved staff morale: Introduction of management support allowance to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal across all cadre of staff
8. Capital projects completion:

Completion of 1×7.5MVA 33/11kv injection substation with 3km 33kv line in Borno state university, Maiduguri, Borno state

Completion of 1×7.5MVA 33/11kv injection substation with 1km 33kv line & 8 nos 330kv distribution transformers at Orogun, Delta state

Completion of 1x15MVA, 33/11kV Injection substation with 1km of 33kV line, 5km of LT Line and supply and installation of 3nos. 500KVA 11/0.415KV Distribution Transformers in College of Agriculture, Maiduguri, Borno State.

Completion of Afam-Ikot Ekpene Double-Circuit Transmission Line and Afam 330KV Line Bay Extension (NIPP Lot 4T)

9. Major projects – Commencement of the delivery and connection of commercial cluster in Agbara industrial estate to the Grid under the “Light up Nigeria” project
10. Commencement of the site acquisition for the delivery of 10MW embedded generation solution via solar renewable energy to serve customers in an industrial area in Kano
11. Commencement of the restoration of the Gbarain NIPP 225MW plant which has been dormant since year 2020
12. Bilateral transactions: Unlocking about 500MW executed in power purchase agreements PPAs currently awaiting NERC approval to operationalize
13. Engaged SIEMENS to carry out extended minor inspections at Geregu NIPP which has been successfully completed thereby extending the plants EOH
14. Secured insurance claims from underwriters to defray about $15,000,000:00 (Fifteen Million USD) Insurance claims on fire incident at Alaoji plant
15. Resolve the lingering dispute with ACCUGAS on outstanding invoices leading to the mutually agreed amendment of the GSA to reduce the contractual exposure of the government

Going forward, the Managing Director urges Sahara Reporters and all responsible media outlets to seek clarification from her office on any issue relating to NDPHC before publication, in line with the elementary principles of fair hearing and ethical journalism.

While NDPHC and its Managing Director remain committed to transparency, accountability and constructive engagement with the public, Engr. Adighije will not hesitate to exercise her fundamental rights — including seeking legal redress — against any media platform that publishes demonstrably false allegations against her without affording her a fair opportunity to respond. The company therefore strongly advises SR to withdraw this malicious story.