Akpabio summoned as ex-NDDC MD testifies before reps

The house of representatives committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has summoned Godswill Akpabio, minister of Niger Delta affairs.

The committee led by Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo took the decision after hearing the testimony of Joy Nunieh, a former managing director of NDDC.

The house is probing the alleged mismanagement of N81 billion by the interim management committee (IMC) of the commission led by Kemebradikumo Pondei, NDDC axcting managing director.

Pondei walked out on the committee when he appeared before the lawmakers in the lower legislative chamber on Thursday.

The managing director had demanded that Tunji-Ojo should recuse himself from the probe and walked out after the lawmaker refused.

Tunji-Ojo and Peter Nwaoboshi, his counterpart in the senate, have been accused by Pondei of inserting over 500 “non-existent” projects in the commission’s 2019 budget.

However, after listening to the testimony of Nunieh via teleconference, the lawmakers invited Pondei to reappear with Akpabio on Monday.

Nunieh had accused the minister of fraud and sexual harassment.

The probe by the house is coming days after the upper legislative chamber concluded its own investigation of alleged mismanagement of N40 billion by the commission.

The report by a senate ad hoc committee is expected to be laid at plenary soon.