The Acting Managing Director of The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Daniel Pondei, has led a walkout on the House of Representative Committee on Niger Delta, denying the committee an audience.
Mr. Pondei, who appeared before the committee with other management staff of the commission had accused the chairman of the house committee on NDDC, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, of corruption. He said because of that, his team will not speak before the committee.
“We are not comfortable with the chairman of this committee presiding over a matter he has been accused of.”
“There is no point of order here. As long as he is the chairman of this committee, the NDDC will not make any presentation here,” he said.
When lawmakers intervened and told the NDDC team that nobody could decide its modus operandi, the NDDC management staged a walk out.
The house is conducting an investigative hearing on the alleged financial malfeasance and other activities in the NDDC.
In May, a group accused Mr Tunji-Ojo of having benefited from award of contracts in the commission.
The lawmaker described the allegations as shameful and baseless.
In a statement, the lawmaker described a newspaper publication attributed to some “inconsequential groups” claiming he was awarded a 17 km road contract as ‘smear campaign.’
Mr Tunji-Ojo represents Akoko North East/ West Federal Constituency of Ondo state.
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