NDDC DRAMA: Acting MD of NDDC Pondei fainted while questioned by House of Rep Committee

          

The investigation into the handling of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) reconvened on  Monday. Recall the investigation centred on how NDDC spent N81.5 billion in 4 months without undertaken any project. 

Recall also that this blog reported the acting Managing Director of NDDC Prof. Daniel Pondei and his team walked out on the House of Representatives committee for Niger Delta Commission. Pondei openly accused the chairman of the committee Hon. Olubunmi Tunji- Ojo of being corrupt and that he should recuse himself from the investigation.

The House of Rep speaker, Hon.Femi Gbajabiamila granted his request and appointed Mr. Thomas Ereyitomi to chair the investigation committee of NDDC.

   

On Monday,Pondei, a professor of medical microbiology, fainted while answering questions by the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC. He was answering questions from the lawmakers on how NDDC spent N81.5 billion from February 2020 - May 2020 without handling any project before he slumped.

Hon. Shehu Koko asked Prof. Pondei to explain to the committee the sum of N642 million paid to a company called Clear Point Communication. 

The lawmaker also asked the NDDC boss to explain N536 million paid to Save Life Campaign and to prove that they were all budgeted for the 2019 Appropriation Act. 

The former Don at Niger Delta University said that N642 million paid to Clear Point Communication was to train the locals and to help them locate and identify NDDC projects within their area. To the question if it was budgeted in the 2019 Appropriation Act Pondei said he is unable to confirm that and asked for more time to provide the budget.

While been questioned he slumped and started sweating profusely. He was quickly rushed to the hospital. The hearing was adjourned for 30 minutes.

When the hearing resumed, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and Majority Leader Alhassan Doguwa joined the committee.

The Speaker, Gbajabiamila, made known that Daniel Pondei will not be appearing before the committee again. He said that the committee will adopt the written response of Daniel Pondei and he wished him speedy recovery. 

Gbajabiamila said: ”There would be no need for the MD of NDDC to appear anymore since he has submitted a written response. I wish Mr. Pondei safe and speedy recovery and I have also sent the Medical Director of the National Assembly to follow up to ascertain the condition of the MD. Thank you very much and I, therefore, hand over to the current chairman of the committee, Mr. Thomas Ereyitomi, to continue with the hearing.”