Don’t dishonour Buhari, appear on Monday, Reps tell Akpabio over NDDC probe

TRACKING___The House of Representatives has called on the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, not to dishonour President Muhammadu Buhari by shunning the invitation to appear before its panel on Monday.

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The House said based on the marching orders issued by Buhari on Thursday that heads of ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government must cooperate with the National Assembly in the ongoing investigation of the Niger Delta Development Commission, there was the needs for Akpabio to obey the President.

The House based its summons on the revelations in the ongoing investigation by the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission into the alleged illegal expenditure and mismanagement of resources, saying it was necessary for the minister to account to Nigerians.

The House Committee on NDDC is especially probing the illegal spending by the Interim Management Committee of the commission totaling N81.5bn between January and July 2020.

The panel had on Friday summoned Akpabio, asking him to appear before it on Monday.

The lawmakers also summoned the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Prof Daniel Pondei, who earlier on Thursday led members of the IMC to stage a walkout on the lawmakers, following which the panel issued a warrant of arrest on him.

However, the committee asked Pondei to reappear on Monday.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, on Saturday, in an interview with newsmen said the House expected the minister to obey its summons.

The House spokesman, who is also a member of the panel, hinted that Akpabio and Pondei, who is heading the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC, might be made to have a face-off on Monday.