In 2020, a Nigerian official accused of misusing government funds came up with
a clever way of avoiding having to answer any difficult questions about the matter.
He decided to just fake fainting which you're seeing
in the video next to me as we speak.
So the story is getting a lot of attention
now, even though this incident occurred back in 2020.
It was posted recently by Africa in Focus online.
Here's some background on what happened.
So the Nigerian House of Representatives were holding a hearing about the
Niger Delta Development Commission during which
they grilled it's acting managing director.
His name is Daniel Pondei
about possible corruption financial misappropriation, okay?
>> That's Daniel Ponzei.
>> No, it's not Ponzei.
>> [LAUGH].
>> It's.
>> [LAUGH] I'm kidding, ponzi scheme.
>> Yeah.
>> All right.
>> No, but I get it.
>> Okay, yeah.
>> Okay, so >> [LAUGH].
>> They were pressing him on the matter, right?
On where money intended for development projects went, where he was spending it.
And at that point, he faked the faint.
And you're about to see it in this video.
Let's take a look, keep our mics up
and we'll narrate, give you our expert narration here.
Let's watch.
So there he is, he's just- >> I stole-
>> It looks like- >> Over a million bucks, I'm fainting.
>> So is that what Joe Biden does at every public event?
Is it fake fainting or is he just like literally falling asleep and taking a nap?
>> [LAUGH] The original Joe Biden.
>> Yeah.
There he is.
>> Sleepy.
>> No, but- >> Sleepy Pondie.
>> This is where it gets better, okay?
Everyone's like my God, he's fainting.
We must help him.
So that guy is shaking him.
My favorite is the guy in the gray suit who runs.
[LAUGH] What are you doing?
Why?
>> [LAUGH].
Why?
>> [CROSSTALK].
>> What are you doing?
What?
Look at him.
He's like okay, I'm not actually fainting.
Get off of me.
>> [LAUGH] Okay, that's probably a reason why he's doing this.
>> Really, what's the reason?
I don't even, the doctors and nurses, right, didn't tell us why he's doing that.
[LAUGH] But from now on, if I think anyone's
faking anything, I would go right for the bell.
Goodness.
My one opportunity to, I mean [LAUGH] what was that?
Maybe he's one of the guys who got ripped off and he's like, he fainted?
All good.
Step aside everybody, I got this son of a bitch.
[LAUGH]
>> The only time it's ever acceptable to do that to another living
thing's mouth is if your dog decides to pick up some rotting
food on the sidewalk and try to ingest it during your walk.
That's the only time it's okay to, why?
What's going on with that?
I actually, rather than having the misappropriator
investigated for misusing funds, I want that
other guy to be investigated for what he's doing to that poor guy's mouth.
>> [LAUGH].
So true.
>> We're watching you bro.
>> Okay.
>> We all see you, what are you doing?
>> First of all, look at how close he gets.
I thought for a second- >> He's so into it.
>> Yeah, cuz I- >> He's like yeah baby.
>> I was like is he gonna give him mouth to mouth?
I didn't understand what was gonna happen.
I'm like are you supposed to give mouth to mouth when someone faints?
I didn't know that was a thing.
Right, he's like this is a golden opportunity.
>> That's not even mouth to mouth.
>> I'm not gonna miss this opportunity and it's almost putting his head in there.
Okay, but the second thing that I loved is that after that guy mangles his
mouth for a couple of seconds, finally the guy's like okay fine, I didn't faint.
And you see his hand.
>> Totally.
>> He's like okay, I didn't faint.
Jesus, make this guy stop.
>> Get off of me.
My God.
So- >> I just stole the money, I'm sorry.
[LAUGH] There's waterboarding, that's finger boarding.
>> So Pondie was allegedly sick before the incident which
added a little bit of weight to his fake fainting.
>> Mm-hm.
>> But, according to a statement signed by the commission's spokesperson,
Charles Odili, Pondei had been sick for the past two weeks.
And ignored his doctor's advice when he appeared at the investigative hearing.
He said that Pondei was concerned that not appearing before the
committee would be seen in public as an admission of guilt.
And he wanted to clear his name by showing up and faking a fainting session.
[LAUGH]
>> I think what happened was that he
fainted at a particularly bad time for him.
So he shows up and then they present the receipts
and he didn't expect it to go like that apparently.
So he's like that's uncomfortable, looks like they have a lot of evidence.
[LAUGH].
>> Usually when you faint-
>> Then the guy over there is, finally I get my chance.
Walaa and in the mouth, go.
[LAUGH].
>> I don't know, look.
>> Another guy is a back masseuse waiting to happen.
>> Yeah, look at him.
He's like yeah, some back rub.
Let me give you back rub >> Help ruin a guy who's fainted.
Why give a back massage?
Someone's giving him a handy.
They're like I don't know, we're trying.
[LAUGH].
>> You like that?
Well yeah, take my thumb.
>> You stole a million dollars you swap meat.
[LAUGH]
Take a couple of figures to the mouth and see how you like it then.
>> So hypothetically, the gentleman inserting his
thumb into the fake fainter's mouth was
trying to prevent the man from biting his tongue in case of a seizure.
>> I see.
>> So there could be some use to that.
In reality though, you should never put your hand or
anything in someone's mouth if they are having a seizure.
>> [LAUGH].
>> And if his fainting was indeed fake, it still didn't do it much good.
After the incident, with the assistance of a police
officer, the failed malingerer was led from the room.
The official was charged with stealing a
lot of money, $1.28 million in American money.
>> Yeah, malingerer meaning thief.
>> All right, you guys get the point.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> Which is that Anna needs glasses.
Okay, [LAUGH].
>> What did I say?
>> You said, it doesn't matter.
>> Okay.