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The House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC) investigation on financial malfeasance and fraudulent activities in the Commission Monday ended in dramatic circumstances.
At the beginning of the fourth day of the investigation, Chairman of the Committee, Olubumi Tunji-Ojo stepped down from presiding over the ongoing investigation to give room for fair hearing, having been accused of involvement in the allegations while the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Thomas Ereyitomi (PDP, Delta) presided.
As the investigation ensued, the Acting Managing Director of NDDC, Kemerbrandikumo Pondei fainted while responding to questions by the lawmakers over expenses made out of budgetary provisions and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Abuja for treatment.
Pondei who had last Thursday walked out on the Committee, accusing its Chairman of complicity in the investigation was highly uneasy and feigened ignorance to most of the questions relating to finances of the Commission he superintendent.
Before he fainted, the Managing Director agreed that the total sum of N81.5 billion was spent by the two Interim Management Committee (IMC) between October 2019 and 31st May, 2020.
According to him, out of the N81.5 billion, the sum of N38.6 billion was expended on capital projects while N33.5 billion outstanding was paid to contractors, adding that the sum of
total sum of N72 billion was realised between February and June, 2020.
Denying some allegations made against him, Pondei said: “We didn’t give scholarships but we heard the reports that myself and Dr Cairo Ojuigoh that we paid ourselves scholarships and the basic truth is that we were processing these scholarships for these students. Just as were about submitting it we heard accusations that our children are in the scholarships list and this had to be brought back, and be scrutinized. As we speak the scholarships payment is being processed and will be cleared this week from 2016.
“On the Forensic Audit, it’s ongoing, the NDDC doesn’t have control over the forensic audits, my job is to provide enabling environment and requisite documents and whatever they need. When we came in staff moral was very low, staff has not been promoted for four years, we cleared back log of these promotions.
On other allegations the emotional Managing Director said: “I must have said the ‘’take care’’ of ourselves in anger, it was not 1.5bn, the figure is 1.32bn Naira. On the question where in the budget that I derive power to spend the money, I will provide that answer for you. I don’t want to lie under oath”.
In his remarks at the investigation, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila said Pondei fainted as a result of the stuffy nature of the hearing room which is not well ventilated and asked the Committee not to invite him again but adopt the written response of the Managing Director.
Gbajabiamila said: ”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.
He stated that the decision by the Chairman, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to recuse himself from the probe showed that the lawmakers were out to ensure a credible exercise and give everyone fair hearing.
On his part, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio told the lawmakers in the face that most contracts in NDDC were awarded to federal legislators while responding to allegations of contract scams leveled against him.
When asked to explain what he meant, Akpabio said: “Just look at your Chairman (Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo), I have records to show that most of the NDDC contracts were given out to the National Assembly Members. The two Chairmen of both Committees can explain to you.”
The former Akwa Ibom State Governor explained that the contract for the procurement of vehicles in NDDC went through Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) which must have gone through due diligence before he presented it to Federal Executive Council (FEC).
He said: ”So when something has gone through the BPP, it’s my job to present it to FEC because they have their own criteria. The three contract, two went through FEC. BPP approved two of them, one is the vehicle and as at the time these things were done, they are in the 2019 budget I think.”
The Minister accused the lawmakers of bullying him when he was interrupted while answering the question, saying: “Mr Chairman, the condition, where we are in now, does not require bullying, with due respect.”
But the Chairman, Ereyitomi replied that: ”We are not bullying you, honourable minister. Answer the question directly. You know you are my leader. An uncommon leader”.
On his fracas with Joi Nunieh, Akpabio said: ”The former Managing Director of the NDDC was relieved of her appointment when I received a letter from the then Chief of Staff (may his soul rest in peace) that she did not possess the requisite qualifications to be there.
”For instance, we have written twice to the National Youth Service Corps and twice they have insisted that she never served and that she does not have an NYSC certificate or an exception.
Insisting that there was ongoing forensic audit going on at NDDC, he said: “We’ve concluded with the Bureau of Public Procurement for the forensic auditors, we divided them into ten lots. Ernest and young has been approved by the BPP which we’ve presented to the Federal Executive Council, in addition to about 8 other companies right now.”
Debunking allegations of missing 30 files, the Minister said: ”Most of the files were given to the executive director by the MD when the report of arson reached the police and the commissioner of police in river state had to personally visit the office. The files were taken to safe custody and handed over to the forensic.”
”If you know why NDDC is where it is today, you will that it’s because of lack of proper monitoring and supervision. If the minister cannot ask the NDDC to bring its expenses for scrutiny then it means that the minister can stay for four years and they spend over one trillion without his knowledge. This is why it’s important the minister should be appointed as the chairman of the presidential monitoring committee, so he can have access to the expenses of NDDC”.
The Committee after grilling Akpabio, adjourned proceedings sine die.
