NDDC’s N81.5bn Fraud: Pondei Suffers Seizure During Reps Cross Examination

Prof. Daniel Pondei, Acting Chairman of the Interim Management Committee, (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, on Monday, suffered from seizure while being grilled by the House of Representative Committee on the NDDC over allegations of N81.5bn fraud in the commission.

He was being asked to respond to how unapproved N1.32bn, N641m were spent on Covid-19 palliative, and payment to a communication company; Clearpoint Communications when he fainted and had to be carried out of the hearing room.

Recall that the National Assembly has been probing the N81.5bn billion the Agency claimed it spent in less than six months. Also, another N40bn scam is being investigated by lawmakers.

Pondei was been quizzed on these allegations where he appeared to have slumped, a man was seen holding Pondei’s mouth after he appeared to be in a seizure as others held him upright. But he lost composure intermittently and was moved out of the session.

According the New Diplomat report, the development forced the lawmakers to adjourn hearing for thirty minutes.

Lawmakers investigating corruption allegations in the NDDC had on Friday summoned Pondei and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to appear before them today (Monday) as the country sought to understand how budgetary allocations to the agency had been spent.