The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Professor Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, has walked out on the House Committee on NDDC that is probing the activities and finances of the Commission.
Professor Pondei had asked the Chairman of the Committee, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to excuse himself from the House investigation. He insists that Tunji-Ojo is involved in the allegations under investigation by the Committee and therefore he cannot be a judge in his own case.
The Acting Managing Director said the Chairman of the committee, Tunji-Ojo, is an interested party in the matter and also that he has been accused severally and indicted for soliciting funds from the Commission in the past.
Members of the Committee told the Acting Managing Director that the parliament has powers to regulate itself and that no law can stop the it from sitting on any matter it wishes.
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The Committee also quickly passed unanimous vote of confidence on its Chairman and at that instance, the Acting MD of the NDDC walked out insisting that the House Chairman cannot be a judge in his own case and as such not competent to preside on the matter.
The investigative hearing is still on with other key players present to clear their names on the various allegations leveled against them
(Editors: Terverr Tyav and Paul Akhagbemhe)
