Mr Pondei, who appeared with other management staff of the
commission, 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.”
He asked the committee chairman to recuse himself from the
investigation.
“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.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how an ex-managing director
of the NDDC, Joy Nunieh, raise alarm that her home in Port Harcourt had been
surrounded by armed police officers and therefore she would not be able to
travel to Abuja to appear before the lawmakers.
Ms Nunieh has accused the Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill
Akpabio, of corruption in the management of the NDDC, an allegation the
minister has denied.
More details later….
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