Kemebradikumo Pondei, acting managing director of the Niger
Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has described as ridiculous, the claims that he deliberately passed out during a session of the House of Representatives committee probing the commission.
On July 20, Pondei collapsed while answering questions from
the panel probing alleged mismanagement of N40 billion by the interim management
committee of the NDDC.
Many Nigerians, especially on social media, had said Pondei
pretended so as to avoid being held accountable by the lawmakers.
Taunting him, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had said
Pondei fainted because of the weight of corruption under the current
administration.
But in an interview with Vanguard, Pondei denied staging the
act, saying that he does not run away from issues.
“I had an unexplained, unexpected health challenge. It is
ridiculous to think that people believed I was acting. I would not pray for
anyone to experience what I went through. I do not run from issues. I have put
all that behind me,” he said.
The NDDC acting managing director also described the
allegations against the commission as “laughable”.
“From N40 billion missing, the probes now became
extra-budgetary spending. After accusing the EIMC of embezzlement of N40
billion, nothing was substantiated. The IMC is then asked to refund monies paid
for historical debts owed contractors, service providers and allowances paid to
staff,” he said.
“Payment/non-payment of these contracts contributed to the
face-off and the lawmakers were denying ever doing contracts associated with
the NDDC.”
Pondei admitted that there is lack of checks and balances in
the regional commission, adding that “NDDC was a place for political patronage
and raising war chests for elections”.
“We are told that the lawmakers actually facilitated the
projects to their constituencies, but also insisted on the contracts been
awarded to them or their proxies,” he said.
“I am not part of any cartel. Instead, I have tried to
eliminate this by reducing interaction between staff and contractors.
Gratification had been going on as a routine procedure. Nepotism in processing
of files and payments also exist. Before all these distractions, the EIMC was
working seriously on this issue of people being asked to pay percentages to
staff.
“In between the probes by the NASS, we tried to present the
2019 budget performance and defend the 2020 budget. A minor typographical error
was noticed and we asked for 10 minutes to amend the errors, but the
presentation was stepped down. The NASS has since gone on recess.”
To watch moment when Pondei fainted, click HERE
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