Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee probing Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has recused himself from the ongoing investigation of the commission.
The House Committee is probing the alleged mismanagement and illegal spending by the commission, especially a total sum of N81.5bn spent between January and July 2020.
Last week, Kemebradikumo Pondei, acting managing director of the NDDC, walked out on the committee after alleging that Tunji-Ojo and Peter Nwaoboshi, his counterpart at the senate, padded the 2019 budget of the commission.
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According to Pondei, the Commission cannot partake an investigative hearing which is being presided over by Tunji-Ojo, who has been accused by the NDDC of hijacking the Commission’s projects.
He was of the opinion that the NDDC will not get a fair hearing, as Mr Tunji-Ojo is also being investigated.
After his request was denied, top officials of the NDDC staged a walkout on the panel.
Following the NDDC’s action, the committee issued a warrant of arrest compelling Professor Pondei to appear before the lawmakers and make a proper submission.
Tunji-Ojo has however denied the allegation which he described as baseless, and challenged anyone with evidence to bring it forward.
He said;
I am the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC in the House of Representatives and I say without equivocation that I do not have any contract whatsoever at the commission.
