DRAMA! NDDC Official Inserts Fingers In MD’s Mouth, Ignoring COVID-19 Rules At Reps Hearing
A drama played out on Monday when Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, the acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), collapsed while answering questions during an investigative hearing by the House of Representatives.
Pondei and the NDDC team had appeared before the lower legislative chamber probing alleged N40 billion irregular expenditures in the NDDC.
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The investigative hearing was broadcast live on television.
In the heat of the hearing, Pondei appeared to have fainted when asked by the lawmakers to explain the N1.5 billion spent by the NDDC as COVID-19 palliative for staff, as well as the N642 million paid to a company known as Clear Point Communication, among other questions.
The NDDC boss was also asked to explain if the sum of N536 million allegedly paid for ‘Save Life Campaign’ in the Niger Delta region was captured in the 2019 budget.
Responding, Pondie said the N642 million was paid to Clear Point Communication to train locals and to help locate and identify NDDC projects in the area, but failed to confirm that the payments were captured in the 2019 budget.
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When it appeared that the questions from the lawmakers were becoming heated, Pondie began to sweat profusely and eventually collapsed.
One of the NDDC officials at the hearing was seen inserting his fingers in Pondei’s mouth, ignoring recommended safety precautions by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to avoid the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Social distancing was also flouted as the NDDC officials surrounded Pondei, with some of them having their face masks under their chin.
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