The acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Kemebradikumo Pondei has dismissed the notion that he deliberately passed out during a session of the House of Representatives committee probing the commission.
Recall that Pondei on July 20, collapsed while answering questions from the panel probing alleged mismanagement of N40 billion by the interim management committee of the NDDC.
The NDDC boss denied staging the act, saying that he does not run away from issues.
He said it was ridiculous for people to think that he faked the fainting during the House of Representatives probe.
The NDDC boss said he has an unexplained challenge which caused him to pass out during the interrogation. “I had an unexplained, unexpected health challenge. It is ridiculous to think that people believed I was acting. I would not pray for anyone to experience what I went through. I do not run from issues. I have put all that behind me,” he said. He also denied the allegations that there was corruption at the NDDC.
Meanwhile, Pondei has alleged that the NDDC was compelled to pay for contracts by the National Assembly before its 2019 budget was approved. He also alleged that over the years some lawmakers especially ad-hoc committee members held the commission hostage with the budget approval. The NDDC boss in a statement through his special adviser on media, Edgar Ebigoni gave a detailed list of the contracts which the National Assembly allegedly compelled the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the commission to pay before having its budget approved.
In a related report, Kemebradikumo Pondei has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IG) over the refusal of seven contractors to deliver on what they were paid for. Pondei, who in a six-page petition dated July 29, entitled “Re: Forwarding of documents in respect of ongoing investigation,” claimed the contractors were each paid the sum of N232,209,600.00 to manufacture the chairs and desks. The MD said the contractors delivered the chairs and desks to a warehouse not affiliated to the commission. He also alleged that over the years some lawmakers especially ad-hoc committee members held the commission hostage with the budget approval.
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