BY SEYIFUNMI LUMEKO
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the collapsed acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei will no longer appear before the Committee for the probe.
Gbajabiamila stated this on Monday after Pondei fainted during the Committee panel grilling.
After the episode, the Speaker directed the panel to use documents he already tendered to the panel to reach its conclusion.
Prof Pondei was being grilled by the panel over allegations bordering on the mismanagement of funds.
Gbajabiamila said: “We wish him well. I have been here barely five minutes and I am already sweating profusely. So, I do understand and apologise to everybody here for the poorly conducive atmosphere. I want to say at this point and make it clear, that it is not an adversarial hearing. It is not even inquisitorial.
“It is a fact-finding mission for the people of Nigeria. Just to make things better and we should handle this as such. No one is under an inquisition. The fact must come out and that is why the committee is doing what it is doing.
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“Because of these conditions in this hall, we don’t need to hear further from the acting MD because he has already submitted his written report. I think you can use the documents to do the work that needs to be done.
“Starting from the minister, Dr Cairo Ojougbo and all the executive directors – we are sorry under the conditions which you have been invited and my members are under the same conditions. We wish Mr Pondei all the best.”
