The acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Company (NDDC) Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei and his team on Thursday, walked out on lawmakers at an investigative hearing put together by the House of Representatives over the alleged N40 billion irregular expenditure in the commission.
Pondei stormed out of the hearing after accusing the Chairman of the committee Rep. Olubumi Tunji-Ojo (APC-Ondo) of corruption and refusing to make presentations before the House Committee on NDDC.
According to Pondei, the Commission cannot partake in an investigative hearing which is being presided over by the chairman of the committee who has been accused by the NDDC of hijacking the Commission’s projects.
Professor Pondei was of the opinion that the NDDC will not get a fair hearing
“We in the NDDC are not comfortable with the Chairman of this committee, presiding over a matter”.
“He is an accused party, the NDDC has over time accused Rep. Olubumi Tunji-Ojo of different crimes against the NDDC and he has responded in the press”.
“He is an intrested party and we do not believe that the NDDC can have justice because he cannot seat on his own case.
“We have no issue of appearing, we appeared before the Senate ad hoc committee and as long as he reminds, we will not make any presentation,” he said.
Following the NDDC’s action, the committee resolved to issue a warrant of arrest compelling Professor Pondei to appear before the lawmakers and make a proper submission.
