The face-off between the National Assembly and the Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and its Acting Managing Director, Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, over the probe of over ₦81.5bn expenditure within five months has assumed another dimension on Friday as the House of Representatives Committee gave the Minister of the Niger Delta Development Affairs Ministry, Senator Godwin Akpabio and the Acting Managing Director up till Monday to appear before it or risk arrest.
The Committee is chaired by Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, took the decision, following the continued non-appearance of the Minister before the Committee for three days running, without any genuine excuse.
The Acting Managing Director of the Commission, Professor Pondei who appeared before the Committee along with the members of the Interim Management Committee, IMC, of the Commission on Wednesday could not make any submission as they walked out, saying that they are not comfortable with the head of the investigation panel.
However, the Committee reconvened on Friday, to take the submission of the Minister and other stakeholders, before rounding off the public investigation, but the Minister did not show up again while the Acting Managing Director was also absent.
Consequently the Committee resolved to issue a summon to compel the minister to appear before the Committee on Monday unfailingly.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
