Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has disclosed that the Acting Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Kemebradikumo Pondei who fainted during the ongoing investigative hearing will not appear before the committee again.
The Speaker disclosed this at the resumption of the session following the adjournment due to collapse of Pondei.
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He noted that the committee will adopt the written response of the MD.
Gbajabiamila said this while responding to questions after the NDDC boss collapsed and rushed out for medical attention.
He stated;
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.
The Acting MD appeared alongside the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio at the ongoing hearing by the committee.
Pondei’s unfortunate incident may lead to an extension of the probe which was initially slated for two days but is currently on its fourth day.
During the session, a lawmaker, Shehu Koko, had asked Pondei to explain the N642 million paid to a company known as Clear Point Communication.
The lawmaker also asked the NDDC chief to explain the N536 million paid to Save Life Campaign in the oil-rich region and to prove that they were all budgeted for in the 2019 Appropriation Act.
Pondei told the lawmakers that N642 million paid to Clear Point Communication to train locals and to help locate and identify NDDC projects in the area.
He, however, could not confirm that the payments were budgeted for, asking the lawmakers to give him time to provide the budget.
