Breaking! NDDC’s N81.5bn Fraud: Drama As Pondei Faints Under Cross Examination

Babajide Okeowo
Writer

Ad

Mapped: U.S. Tariff Rates by Country

Key Takeaways The Trump administration increased tariffs, citing trade deficits and national security concerns. Brazil and India received the highest tariff rate of 50%. Under the second Trump administration, new tariff levels have been applied to over 80 countries, with rates ranging from 10% to 50%. The U.S. President argues that persistent trade deficits and…

Thai Court Dismisses PM Over Compromising Phone Call with Cambodian Leader

Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday dismissed Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her position as prime minister, ruling that as the country’s leader she violated constitutional rules on ethics in a phone call with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen. The ruling means she immediately loses her job, which she had held for about a year. Paetongtarn was suspended…

Oil Prices Dip but Stay on Track to Extend Last Week’s Gains

Crude oil prices were set for another weekly rise after additional 25% tariffs on Indian exports to the United States kicked in on Wednesday, raising doubts about the supply of Russian crude. At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $68.17 per barrel, with West Texas Intermediate at $64.20 per barrel, both slightly down from Thursday’s close…

Ad

There was drama and confusion as the Acting Chairman of the Interim Management Committee, (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Prof. Daniel Pondei fainted 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.

Read also: Buhari Orders Agencies, NASS To Expedite NDDC’s Probe

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.

The development forced the lawmakers to adjourn hearing for thirty minutes.

Read also: NDDC’s N81.5bn Fraud: Ojo, Committee Chair Recuses Self From Panel

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.

Read also: Alleged Massive Corruption In NDDC: Group Wants Appointees Sacked, Calls For Prosecution

Ad

X whatsapp