Despite huge allegation its chairman is part of NDDC corruption, House investigative panel summons Akpabio, Pondei

The House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has summoned the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio, to appear and make presentations before it on Monday, July 20, 2020.

The committee also summoned the Acting Managing Director of the commission, Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, to appear before it on the same day.

This comes after the former MD of the NDDC, Joi Nunieh, on Friday gave her testimony at the House Committee on Public Hearing via zoom.

Nunieh was billed to appear before the committee on Thursday but her house was besieged by some security agents, hindering her from making a physical appearance.

In her presentation which she made to the committee, she defended herself against allegations of corruption, arguing that there was no contractor that paid bribes.

Pondei’s Thursday walk out on the lawmakers, during an investigative hearing put together by the House of Representatives, had angered them.

But the NDDC boss said the Commission cannot partake in an investigative hearing which is being presided over by the chairman of the committee who has been accused by the NDDC of hijacking the Commission’s projects.

Professor Pondei was of the opinion that the NDDC will not get a fair hearing.

The Commission however refused to make presentations before the House Committee on NDDC.

Now that the House Committee, despite that huge observation raised by Pondei, has gone ahead to summon not only Pondei but also the minister, The DEFENDER cannot clearly report whether or not the accused investigative panel chairman has stepped down or not.