Pondei threw the proceedings into a state of confusion as he fainted during proceedings while he was being grilled by the lawmakers.

In a statement released this evening, the Director, Corporate Affairs of NDDC, Charles Odili, said Pondei is now in a stable condition.

The statement read “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.”