NDDC Probe: Pondei Will Not Appear Before Panel Again, We Have Written Report Already, Says Gbajabiamila

Femi Gbajabamila, Speaker House of Representatives, has stalled the hearing of the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei who is being probed by the House Committee on NDDC panel over corruption allegations of financial mismanagement in the commission.

The House Committee on NDDC is investigating allegations of financial mismanagement of over N80 billion in the commission.

While being grilled by the Green Chambers investigative panel on Monday, Pondei passed out before the panel and was rushed out of the hearing session.

MERIDIAN SPY reported earlier the Commission said the acting MD had been unwell over two weeks but against medical advisory, insisted on attending the hearing of the House committee in Abuja.

“However, he ignored his doctors’ advice because of the realisation that his traducers will use his absence at the hearing to soil his name and reputation. He thought he could make it through the hearing and take care of his health later,” said Charles Odili, the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs in a statement on Monday night.

Intervening in the development, Gbajabiamila admitted that the hearing room was stuffy and gave an apology for having the investigation held in such condition.

While wishing Pondei quick recovery, he said the acting NDDC MD would no longer be appearing before the panel since he had already submitted his written report.

“We wish him well. I have been here barely five minutes and I am already sweating profusely. So I do understand and apologise to everybody here for the poorly conducive atmosphere. I want to say at this point and make it clear, that is not an adversarial hearing. It is not even inquisitorial,” said the Speaker, joining the committee on Monday.

“It is a fact-finding mission for the people of Nigeria. Just to make things better and we should handle this as such. No one is under inquisition. The fact must come out and that is why the committee is doing what it is doing.

“Because of these conditions in this hall, we don’t need to hear further from the acting MD because he has already submitted his written report. I think you can use the documents to do the work that needs to be done.

“Starting from the minister, Dr. Cairo and all the executive directors – we are sorry under the conditions which you have been invited and my members are under the same conditions. We wish Mr Pondei all the best.”