President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mr Effiong Okon Akwa as an interim administrator to oversee the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) abruptly ending the tenure of Kemebradikumo Pondei.

Pondei and his Interim Management Committee have been embroiled in the juice of corruption and sundry allegations of mismanagement of funds for which he was summoned to the National Assembly. On one of his appearances before the National Assembly ad hoc committee, Professor   while being interrogated.

As he struggled to explain how money was spent under strange circumstances, Pondei slumped while sitting, hunching over the table with his eyes dilating. He was first administered first aid after which he was rushed out of the National Assembly. He never made another appearance to clear the air on his role on the misapplication of funds.

NDDC insiders said his dismissal was recommended to President Buhari, hinting that he may face prosecution to explain his role in the award of contracts and allocation of funds to NDDC staff as Covid-19 palliative among other alleged misdemeanours.

Mr Effiong Okon Akwa, the Ag. Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Commission,  is to assume headship till completion of the forensic audit.

Mr Akwa is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The development became necessary as a result of plethora of litigation and a restraining order issued recently against the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC by a Federal High Court in Abuja.