NDDC CORRUPTION: SENATE CALLS ON PRESIDENT BUHARI TO SACK NDDC MD AND HIS TEAM
The Senate on Thursday, July 23rd, 2020, called on President Buhari to sack the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, and his Interim Management Committee (IMC) over alleged financial misappropriation and corruption.
In recent weeks, the NDDC has been in the middle of several allegations of corruption, and has had to defend its 2019 budget and expenses before the National Assembly thrice.
The National Assembly is probing the NDDC Interim Management Committee (IMC) over allegations that it blew N81 billion in seven months.
Recall that there was a mild drama during the hearing on Monday, July 20th, 2020, as Pondei fainted while under questioning.
Before he fainted, the MD said the commission spent N1.32 billion, and not N1.5 billion, which was earlier attributed to him, as COVID-19 palliative for members of staff.
The Senate also suggested that the NDDC should be returned to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) for proper accountability and supervision.
The National Assembly's upper chamber also asked the IMC to refund the N4.923billion it paid to staff and contractors.
The Chairman of the National Assembly Ad hoc Committee, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi presented the report.
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Adetunmbi said: “In conclusion, the Committee noted that it is difficult to find a correlation between Niger Delta community development and cash invested in the zone.
“Continued cash injection in the Niger Delta challenge issue has not worked under the various IMCs.
“It may be useful at this juncture for the Government to intervene by stepping down the EIMC (Executive Interim Management Committee), thereby helping them leave the stage for a properly constituted board with specific mandate to address the pains of the Niger Delta people.”
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The Commission which was formerly under the supervision and leadership of the SGF is now being led and overseen by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Akpabio, while being probed by the committee, accused members of the National Assembly of being the greatest beneficiaries of the contracts awarded by NDDC.
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