Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has rescued the former Managing Director of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Joy Nunieh, out of her residence after alleged “house arrest”.
Officers had stormed Nunieh’s home at 3, Owuru Creek view, off Herbert Macaulay Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt in the early hours of Thursday.
The reason for Nunieh’s alleged arrest is still unknown but sources say it is in connection with her appearance before a Senate panel in Abuja investigating the activities of the NDDC today.
Our findings, however, revealed that Nunieh was only invited for questioning by the Police, a piece of information yet to be confirmed by the Spokesman of the Rivers State police command, SP Omoni Nnamdi.
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and Nunieh have been embroiled in a war of words over allegations of corruption in the NDDC.
The former MD of NDDC accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, budget padding, fraud, among others, which the Minister has denied.
The Rivers State Government on its part vowed to resist any attempt to hurt Nunieh.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, expressed concerns over recent developments in the interventionist agency.
The statement read in part, “The Rivers State Government has viewed with concern the recent developments at the NDDC in which the name of our daughter, Dr Joi Nunieh, the immediate past acting Managing Director of the commission, has been dragged into.
“We hereby call on those involved in the ongoing investigation of the NDDC to ensure that Dr Joi Nunieh does not suffer any harm in the course of their undertaking.”
“We wish to state categorically that the Rivers State Government will never support any action that will prevent or jeopardise the laudable intentions of President Muhammadu Buhari to positively reposition the NDDC and fulfil the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta.
“However, we wish to state that while we are not interested in identifying with the present unfolding drama in the NDDC; we will not, however, fail to protect our daughter from actual harm or perceived danger.
“The state owes it as a duty to protect her citizens from danger no matter their political affiliation, and we cannot fold our arms and watch anyone harm her or indeed any Rivers citizen. We advise those involved in the present altercations in the NDDC to thread with caution in their actions and utterances.”
