By Kolawole Ojebisi
Members of the House of Representatives Committee on the Niger Delta have issued a warrant of arrest against the Managing Director of the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei.
Pondei had on Thursday walked out on the House of Representatives panel set up to investigate allegations of corruption in the agency, claiming that the chairman had conflict of interest and could not preside over the hearing.
He said Tunji-Ojo had been fingered in the alleged fraud at the NDDC and so, cannot sit over the same matter in which he has been accused.
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His statement irked members of the committee which issued an arrest warrant against the NDDC acting MD and other members of the interim management committee for trying hinder one of their legislative duties.
The committee also passed a vote of confidence on Tunji-Ojo who was accused of corruption in the NDDC affairs.
The chairman was alleged to have been awarded a road contract by the NDDC, before the new interim management came on board.
But he had denied the allegation which he described as baseless, and challenged anyone with evidence to bring it forward.
“I am the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC in the House of Representatives and I say without equivocation that I do not have any contract whatsoever at the commission,” Tunji-Ojo had said.
“I am aware of the responsibility bestowed upon me by the virtue of my chairmanship of this all important committee and as a result, have kept my integrity and ability to perform my functions with good conscience without soiling my hands.”
The drama at Thursday’s hearing played out barely 24 hours after the NDDC management failed to appear before the committee’s sitting on Wednesday.
The house had resolved to investigate allegations of fraud in NDDC operations particularly with regard to award of contracts and expenses made.
Since the commencement of the probe, which is also being done at the senate, a series of drama has been playing out between the lawmakers and the NDDC, with both parties accusing each other of irregularities.
Joy Nunieh, former Managing Director at the NDDC, who was also scheduled to appear before the lawmakers, failed to show up after her house was besieged by armed policemen.
Governor Nyesom Wike, however, came to Nunieh’s rescue and whisked her off to the government house for safety.
Prior to this development, the besieging of Nunieh’s house by armed policemen, the Rivers State Government through her commissoner for information on Wednesday had said that it would protect her daughter from harm.
