The Speaker of the House of Representative, Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Kemebradikumo Pondei will no longer appear before the House of Representatives panel probing him on the agency’s Interim management.
Speaking after Prof Pondei was taken to a hospital after he fainted at the probe venue, Gbajabiamila directed the panel to use documents he already tendered to the panel to reach its conclusion.
Prof Pondei, who is the managing director of the agency’s Interim Management Committee (IMC), collapsed while he was being grilled by the panel over allegations bordering on the mismanagement of funds.
Wishing Pondei a quick recovery, the Speaker apologised over the poor condition of the hearing room which was stuffy.
Meanwhile, a group, Southern Nigeria Peoples Mandate (SNPM), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a judicial panel of inquiry into the alleged financial misappropriation in the Commission.
The president of the group, Mr. Augustine Chukwudum, made this call in a statement issued to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday.
The statement was a reaction to the alleged financial misappropriation in the commission.
Chukwudum noted that the panel should do an in-depth investigation of the management of NDDC, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, and members of the House of Representatives, who were accused by the minister of getting contracts from the commission.
“We are making this clarion call on President Buhari because Nigerians have lost confidence with the house committee on NDDC that is probing the alleged looting.
“They cannot be a judge in a case they are directly involved and have serious questions to answer,’’ he said.
The SNPM leader noted that it was regrettable to see the level of infrastructure decay and non-availability of social amenities in the Niger Delta region despite trillions of naira pumped into the commission.
“It is also regrettable that some sons and daughters of the region were appointed to better the living condition of their people, instead they were allegedly depriving the people of their right,’’ he said.
Chukwudum noted that it was time for Buhari to prove to the world that his anti-corruption war was never selective, adding, “this is why he must sack the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and the NDDC management’’.
The group also commend Chris Ekiyor, who exposed the alleged looting in the NDDC assuring him that every Nigerian is standing behind him.
