The sudden death of the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Etang Ibanga has raised unsettled dust.
While the body language of the commission gave an indication that the director died of complications arising from the Coronavirus pandemic, other sources monitoring activities in the commission claimed the director was poisoned.
Persons alleging poisoning believed that the COVID-19 narrative spearheaded by the commission was a cover-up and an excuse to justify the hurried closure of the NDDC corporate headquarters.
The plot, according to them, is designed to halt all activities of the NDDC and frustrate the ongoing probe of the commission by the National Assembly.
The commission has been at daggers drawn with the National Assembly over the lawmakers decision to investigate bogus expenditures of the Interim Management Committee of NDDC including alleged N40bn scam.
Etang reportedly died at about 2am on Thursday at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt after a brief illness.
Etang, a former Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government, resigned his appointment as Special Assistant to Governor Emmanuel Udom on Projects on April 9, 2018 and formally registered with the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his Etebi Ward 7.
He was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 19 as part of a five-member IMC led by Prof. Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei.
Shortly after his death, the commission’s management in an internal memo signed by Silas Anyanwu shut down the corporate headquarters of NDDC located along Aba Road in Port Harcourt for two weeks.
The memo said all activities of the commission including ongoing matters were also shut down for two weeks.
The Head of Security was asked to work out modalities to secure the commission while the Director, Administration was requested to fumigate and decontaminate the entire offices and premises during the period.
The management also asked all employees to go into self isolation for two weeks and wait for further directive from the management.
The memo said: “I am directed to inform all staff that management has approved that the commission be shut down for two weeks from May 28. Consequently, all activities in the commission including all going matters are hereby shut down for the time being.
“Members of staff are to ensure that all electrical appliances in their offices are switched off before leaving the premises.
“The Head Security is by this memo directed to work out modalities to ensure the safety and security of the commission while the Director Administration is requested to fumigate and decontaminate the entire offices and premises in the headquarters during the period.
“Meanwhile staff are enjoined to go into self-isolation for two weeks as they await further directive from the management”.
But a group, the Act for Positive Transformation Initiative (APTI) called on security agencies to immediately begin investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the director.
The group in a statement signed by its Head, Directorate of Research, Strategy & Programmes alleged that the sudden death of Etang was not ordinary adding that was created to cover up allegations of financial recklessness and misappropriation of billions of funds against the commission.
The statement said: “We call the attention of the general public, the security agencies and President Mohammadu Buhari to the unfolding drama at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“We had earlier raised alarm in the early hours of the day on a rumored satanic scheme to weave the death of the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the commission around COVID-19 in order for members to proceed on isolation, shut the office and frustrate the ongoing probe.
“We alerted some journalists as early as 7:30am on this dubious plan and later appeared on a National Television to warn all involved to respect the dead and halt such inhuman plot. Event this afternoon has finally confirmed this plan that was leaked to the public several hours before it was officially hatched.
“The commission has released a memo to begin the series of drama planned; from isolation to fake test and eventual fake confirmation. We call on the President to direct security agencies to investigate and frustrate every ploy in this regard.
“The late EDFA was no doubt an accounting officer, but not the chief accounting officer. The Managing Director/CEO is the chief accounting officer. All payments are authorized by the Executive Director, Finance & Administration while the final approval lies with the Managing Director. Most of the documents in our possession have both names, there is no way the other party can feign ignorance.
“We also make a special appeal to the security agencies to protect the Managing Director/CEO of the commission. We pray God comfort the families of the dead”.
The sudden death of the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Etang Ibanga has raised unsettled dust.
While the body language of the commission gave an indication that the director died of complications arising from the Coronavirus pandemic, other sources monitoring activities in the commission claimed the director was poisoned.
Persons alleging poisoning believed that the COVID-19 narrative spearheaded by the commission was a cover-up and an excuse to justify the hurried closure of the NDDC corporate headquarters.
The plot, according to them, is designed to halt all activities of the NDDC and frustrate the ongoing probe of the commission by the National Assembly.
The commission has been at daggers drawn with the National Assembly over the lawmakers decision to investigate bogus expenditures of the Interim Management Committee of NDDC including alleged N40bn scam.
Etang reportedly died at about 2am on Thursday at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt after a brief illness.
Etang, a former Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government, resigned his appointment as Special Assistant to Governor Emmanuel Udom on Projects on April 9, 2018 and formally registered with the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his Etebi Ward 7.
He was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 19 as part of a five-member IMC led by Prof. Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei.
Shortly after his death, the commission’s management in an internal memo signed by Silas Anyanwu shut down the corporate headquarters of NDDC located along Aba Road in Port Harcourt for two weeks.
The memo said all activities of the commission including ongoing matters were also shut down for two weeks.
The Head of Security was asked to work out modalities to secure the commission while the Director, Administration was requested to fumigate and decontaminate the entire offices and premises during the period.
The management also asked all employees to go into self isolation for two weeks and wait for further directive from the management.
The memo said: “I am directed to inform all staff that management has approved that the commission be shut down for two weeks from May 28. Consequently, all activities in the commission including all going matters are hereby shut down for the time being.
“Members of staff are to ensure that all electrical appliances in their offices are switched off before leaving the premises.
“The Head Security is by this memo directed to work out modalities to ensure the safety and security of the commission while the Director Administration is requested to fumigate and decontaminate the entire offices and premises in the headquarters during the period.
“Meanwhile staff are enjoined to go into self-isolation for two weeks as they await further directive from the management”.
But a group, the Act for Positive Transformation Initiative (APTI) called on security agencies to immediately begin investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the director.
The group in a statement signed by its Head, Directorate of Research, Strategy & Programmes alleged that the sudden death of Etang was not ordinary adding that was created to cover up allegations of financial recklessness and misappropriation of billions of funds against the commission.
The statement said: “We call the attention of the general public, the security agencies and President Mohammadu Buhari to the unfolding drama at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“We had earlier raised alarm in the early hours of the day on a rumored satanic scheme to weave the death of the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the commission around COVID-19 in order for members to proceed on isolation, shut the office and frustrate the ongoing probe.
“We alerted some journalists as early as 7:30am on this dubious plan and later appeared on a National Television to warn all involved to respect the dead and halt such inhuman plot. Event this afternoon has finally confirmed this plan that was leaked to the public several hours before it was officially hatched.
“The commission has released a memo to begin the series of drama planned; from isolation to fake test and eventual fake confirmation. We call on the President to direct security agencies to investigate and frustrate every ploy in this regard.
“The late EDFA was no doubt an accounting officer, but not the chief accounting officer. The Managing Director/CEO is the chief accounting officer. All payments are authorized by the Executive Director, Finance & Administration while the final approval lies with the Managing Director. Most of the documents in our possession have both names, there is no way the other party can feign ignorance.
“We also make a special appeal to the security agencies to protect the Managing Director/CEO of the commission. We pray God comfort the families of the dead”.
The sudden death of the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Etang Ibanga has raised unsettled dust.
While the body language of the commission gave an indication that the director died of complications arising from the Coronavirus pandemic, other sources monitoring activities in the commission claimed the director was poisoned.
Persons alleging poisoning believed that the COVID-19 narrative spearheaded by the commission was a cover-up and an excuse to justify the hurried closure of the NDDC corporate headquarters.
The plot, according to them, is designed to halt all activities of the NDDC and frustrate the ongoing probe of the commission by the National Assembly.
The commission has been at daggers drawn with the National Assembly over the lawmakers decision to investigate bogus expenditures of the Interim Management Committee of NDDC including alleged N40bn scam.
Etang reportedly died at about 2am on Thursday at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt after a brief illness.
Etang, a former Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government, resigned his appointment as Special Assistant to Governor Emmanuel Udom on Projects on April 9, 2018 and formally registered with the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his Etebi Ward 7.
He was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 19 as part of a five-member IMC led by Prof. Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei.
Shortly after his death, the commission’s management in an internal memo signed by Silas Anyanwu shut down the corporate headquarters of NDDC located along Aba Road in Port Harcourt for two weeks.
The memo said all activities of the commission including ongoing matters were also shut down for two weeks.
The Head of Security was asked to work out modalities to secure the commission while the Director, Administration was requested to fumigate and decontaminate the entire offices and premises during the period.
The management also asked all employees to go into self isolation for two weeks and wait for further directive from the management.
The memo said: “I am directed to inform all staff that management has approved that the commission be shut down for two weeks from May 28. Consequently, all activities in the commission including all going matters are hereby shut down for the time being.
“Members of staff are to ensure that all electrical appliances in their offices are switched off before leaving the premises.
“The Head Security is by this memo directed to work out modalities to ensure the safety and security of the commission while the Director Administration is requested to fumigate and decontaminate the entire offices and premises in the headquarters during the period.
“Meanwhile staff are enjoined to go into self-isolation for two weeks as they await further directive from the management”.
But a group, the Act for Positive Transformation Initiative (APTI) called on security agencies to immediately begin investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the director.
The group in a statement signed by its Head, Directorate of Research, Strategy & Programmed alleged that the sudden death of Etang was not ordinary adding that was created to cover up allegations of financial recklessness and misappropriation of billions of funds against the commission.
The statement said: “We call the attention of the general public, the security agencies and President Mohammadu Buhari to the unfolding drama at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“We had earlier raised alarm in the early hours of the day on a rumored satanic scheme to weave the death of the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the commission around COVID-19 in order for members to proceed on isolation, shut the office and frustrate the ongoing probe.
“We alerted some journalists as early as 7:30am on this dubious plan and later appeared on a National Television to warn all involved to respect the dead and halt such inhuman plot. Event this afternoon has finally confirmed this plan that was leaked to the public several hours before it was officially hatched.
“The commission has released a memo to begin the series of drama planned; from isolation to fake test and eventual fake confirmation. We call on the President to direct security agencies to investigate and frustrate every ploy in this regard.
“The late EDFA was no doubt an accounting officer, but not the chief accounting officer. The Managing Director/CEO is the chief accounting officer. All payments are authorized by the Executive Director, Finance & Administration while the final approval lies with the Managing Director. Most of the documents in our possession have both names, there is no way the other party can feign ignorance.
“We also make a special appeal to the security agencies to protect the Managing Director/CEO of the commission. We pray God comfort the families of the dead”.
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