Although many Nigerians are skeptical about the truth of the matter, Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission Interim Management Commission, Prof Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, slumped at the National Assembly about 40 minutes ago.
He was being bombarded with questions by members of the House of Representatives Committee probing alleged financial sleaze in the commission.
They, among other questions, asked him why his team spent N1.3bn on palliatives during COVID-19 lockdown and whether or not he had budgetary approval for it.
He could not provide any satisfactory answer.
Pondei has been rushed to a hospital as his health crisis has forced the momentary suspension of the probe.
Who is Pondei? Professor Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei MBBS (Lagos) PhD (Nottingham) is a Professor of Medical Microbiology (Virology) and was the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University.
The university indicates in his profile that he has considerable academic administrative experience, having been Acting Head, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, and Acting Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University.
“He is a member of Senate and also represents Senate in the Governing Council.
Prof. Pondei is a past Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Bayelsa State and is currently the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association National Committee on Research Grants.
He is a member of the Board of the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme (BHIS) representing Public Interest. He has published widely and has a special interest in infectious diseases.
Upon appointment in February, he had, according to BusinessDay, said: “We must go back to time-tested activities like agriculture. We have left agriculture behind and other people are now coming to Niger Delta to farm and fish for us. Going forward, the NDDC is going to put more efforts to make sure that people who are going into agriculture and any form of businesses are empowered and given the opportunity to succeed.
“We want to make sure that development trickles down to every community in the Niger Delta. For that to happen, we need to work together. I urge you to sit up and share ideas with us on ways we can do things differently.”
“Let us come together to ensure that NDDC is known for progress. We want a situation where in the next ten years, you will be proud to say that you are from the Niger Delta. So, let us stop all these fighting and other social vices because we are the ones killing ourselves. Let us try to do things differently.”
