Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, has left the hospital.

Prof Pondei, who slumped early Monday afternoon as the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC grilled him on alleged mismanagement of funds up to the tune of N81.5bn in NDDC, is said to have left the hospital where he was taken, during the evening.

Pondei was being grilled for over an hour when he slowly slumped over his desk, appearing to have fainted.

Several people present at the hearing rushed to his aid, propping him up and attempting to stabilise him, while the proceeding was halted.

Soon after, Pondei appeared to be in a seizure with a man holding open his mouth as others held him upright.

Afterward, he appeared to regain and lose composure intermittently and had to be moved out of the session held in the Conference Room 231 of the House.

It later emerged that Prof Pondei shunned medical advice to attend the legislative hearing.

Reacting in a statement on Monday night, NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Charles Odili, said Pondei has been ill for two weeks now.

The statement titled ‘Prof Pondei has been ill’ partly reads: “The Commission wishes to disclose that Prof Pondei has been ill for the past two weeks. This morning, his condition deteriorated, and his doctors advised against attending the hearing.

“However, he ignored his doctors’ advice because of the realisation that his traducers will use his absence at the hearing to soil his name and reputation. He thought he could make it through the hearing and take care of his health later.

“As it turned out, his doctors were right. Prof Pondei is in a stable condition at a clinic in Abuja.”

Pondei became the Acting Managing Director of the commission on February 20, 2020, following the termination of Joy Nunieh’s appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Adapted from reports by Channels TV and The PUNCH.

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