Gbaja: Probe panel can invite Pondei now that he’s out of hospital

Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, says the panel probing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) can invite Kemebradikumo Pondei, acting managing director of the agency, if there is the need to do so.

Pondei was taken to a hospital after he fainted while he was being grilled by the committee probing the alleged mismanagement of N81.5 billion by the interim management committee (IMC) of the commission.

Thereafter, the speaker said the acting NDDC managing director would no longer appear before the panel because he had already tendered documents to his defence.

But speaking on the floor of the house on Tuesday, Gbajabiamila said now that Pondei is out of the hospital, the panel could still invite him for further questioning.

“What I said is that he has submitted his report, he was speaking to the written report and for that and for that day, he didn’t have to come back, we already had his written reports,” the speaker said.

“However, the committee reserves the right to, completely, absolutely – now that we know he is out of hospital from all reports, and we thank God for his life, we thank God that he is okay, and now that we know that he is up and about, the committee has the absolute right to reinvite him for further questioning if the committee so chooses that they need him and that is my ruling on that.”