Latest update on the NDDC Probe

The public hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) continued today.

The two arms of the National Assembly had in May ordered a probe of the tenure of the Acting Managing Director – Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei.

They also called for a probe over a missing N40 billion. Below are updates from the event that took place on Monday, July 20, 2020.

NNDC Acting MD, Pondei, has been ill

Facts have emerged that Pondei has been ill for over two weeks. Pondei slumped at the public hearing on Monday while answering questions from members of the committee.

The commission in a statement by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Charles Obi Odili, in Abuja said the condition of the Acting MD deteriorated during the hearing.

Pondei was also advised not to visit the hearing by his doctor but he went against their advice as he doesn’t want his accusers to use his absence at the hearing to soil his name and reputation.

He thought he could make it through the hearing and take care of his health later. As it turned out, his doctors were right. Prof Pondei is in a stable condition at a clinic in Abuja.

Pondei took over as the acting head of the commission on February 20. Two third of this time were spent in lockdown.

Akpabio reveals why he sacked former NDDC boss, Joy Nunieh

The minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio also during the hearing said that the former NDDC Acting MD. Dr Joy Nunieh was sacked following a letter from the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

According to him; Kyari wrote in the letter that he does not have the requisite qualification to occupy a public office.

Akpabio said that Kyari’s letter stated that the former NDDC boss does not have an NYSC certificate. This formed one of the basis for her removal from office.

He listed other reasons as insubordination and her refusal to attend a meeting of the Federal Executive Council to offer an explanation on certain actions of the Commission.

The former senator who also dismissed Nunueh’s claims that the forensic audit of the commission has not commenced said the forensic audit has since commenced.

“If I find out that the MD of NDDC is not acting in the interest of the Niger Delta people, I will intervene, I had to do that once when I heard about the payment for Lassa fever”.

I called and found out that they had paid N2.9 billion and were about to pay another N572 million. I had to intervene and say they should not because there was no budget at that time. The contractor wrote to me to approve N572 million.”

The minister also refuted allegations by Nunieh that he approved N10bn for her to share with contractors and further reiterated that, N2.5 billion earmarked for forensic audit exercise was included in the 2019 budget of the agency

Akpabio later alleged that; in a bid to evade his signing contract payments. The management of the NDDC splits contracts. This he said made it difficult for him to know what is going on in the Commission.

“It’s not my business to approve payment for parastatal, where they can come to me is when the payment is above 1 billion naira. Even at that, I must go to FEC to get approval,” he said.

He also stated that because of contract splitting; a minister could stay four years in the Ministry without knowing what was going on. He claimed that, over N4.2 billion was spent in tranches of N49 million within a day.

Akpabio also claimed that the forensic audit of the agency ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 is ongoing as against the wrong information by the past managing director that that the audit is yet to start.

PDP reacts

The opposition party in a statement on Monday, via their spokesperson; Kola Ologbondiyan, said “the event further underscored the weight of corruption that has bedeviled the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration”.

Kola claimed that the NDDC boss collapsed under the weight and shame of overwhelming collective guilt brought on him by exposure of massive corruption being perpetrated by NDDC officials.

“It is revealing that Pondei could go no further in the face of scathing revelations of direct pillaging of resources meant for the development and welfare of the Niger Delta people.

In an unbridled corruption racket, in which the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, also stands accused.”

The PDP further called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately suspend Akpabio. As well as disband the NDDC Interim Management Committee (IMC) for the ongoing probe to yield any credible results.