Slumped Acting NDDC MD, Pondei Will Not Appear Before Investigative Panel Again – Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that the Acting Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Kemebradikumo Pondei, who slumped during the ongoing investigative hearing, will not appear before the committee again.

The Speaker disclosed this on Monday, July 20, 2020, when he joined the committee after the hearing resumed, following the collapse of Pondei, while being grilled by the investigative panel.

Gbajabiamila said that the committee will adopt the written response of the managing director. He also wished Pondei a safe and speedy recovery.

”There would be no need for the MD of NDDC to appear anymore since he has submitted a written response,” he said.

“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.”

He added that the decision by the Chairman, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to recuse himself from the probe showed that the lawmakers were out to ensure a credible exercise.

KanyiDaily had earlier reported how Pondei slumped during interrogation by the House of Representatives Committee over alleged missing of N40 billion naira.

Mr Pondei slumped when he was answering questions posed by the investigative panel over alleged misappropriation of funds amounting to billions of Naira.