The House of Representatives has ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to with immediate effect, arrest the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Professor Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, for ‘contempt of the legislature’.
The House Committee on NDDC, had summoned the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC to make presentation at the ongoing investigative hearing into the financial recklessness at the Commission.
At the previous sitting, it was established that the IMC embezzled the sum of N81.5bn from the coffers of the Commission from February to May 2020 without due process.
When called upon to clear the allegation, the Acting MD questioned the credibility of the House Committee.
He said he had no confidence in the Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo-led House Committee on NDDC, insisting he would not speak before the panel.
This led to some members of the committee trying to convince him not to direct the National Assembly on how to perform its oversight functions, but Prof. Pondei eventually dashed out on the committee.
Infuriated by the lack of respect to the House, the spokesman of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, moved a motion, invoking section 89 of the 1999 constitution, and issued a warrant of arrest.
The motion was seconded and passed.
The House also passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Tunji-Ojo, maintaining that his integrity and those of other members of the committee was not in question.
