NDDC Boss, Pondei, Speaks On Collapse

By Emmanuel Awosika

The Acting Managing Director, Expanded Interim Management Committee (EIMC), Niger Delta Development Committee (NDDC), Daniel Pondei, has spoken on his collapse while undergoing questioning at a panel hearing last month.

Pondei, in an interview with Vanguard newspaper, said his loss of consciousness at the hearing was occasioned by a strange ailment afflicting him.

He debunked rumors that he was faking his collapse, adding that he prayed no one faced the problems he was dealing with.

“I had an unexplained, unexpected health challenge. It is ridiculous to think that people believed I was acting. I would not pray for anyone to experience what I went through. I do not run from issues. I have put all that behind me,” he said.

The embattled boss, along with many top guns in the EIMC, is being accused of financial mismanagement by a panel set up to probe the activities of the NDDC.

He, however, stated that he was no longer bordered by the activities of the panel, describing the fresh allegations as “laughable”.

“This is because the accusations/allegations were laughable. From N40 billion missing, the probes now became extra-budgetary spending. After accusing the EIMC of embezzlement of N40 billion, nothing was substantiated.

“The IMC is then asked to refund monies paid for historical debts owed contractors, service providers and allowances paid to staff,” he stated.

Pondei also addressed the yet-to-be-passed 2020 NDDC budget, saying the Coronavirus-induced lockdown was among factors responsible for the House of Reps inability to assent to the budget.

He said the latest attempt to present the budget before the house had been truncated by an error that required amending before the budget could be deliberated upon.

“A minor typographical error was noticed and we asked for 10 minutes to amend the errors, but the presentation was stepped down. The NASS has since gone on recess,” he explained.

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