Immediate past managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Ms. Joi Nunieh says she made an SOS call to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike to rescue her from the policemen who attempted to arrest her without a warrant.
Nunieh said she was making preparations to go to Abuja to make her submission to the House of Representatives Committee probing allegations of corruption against the NDDC management when policemen stormed her residence before dawn and cordoned off the building, preventing any entry or exit.
Speaking at the Rivers State Government House, PortHarcourt on Thursday, Nunieh said the heavily armed policemen were trying to break the security door to her residence before the governor arrived in her residence and ordered them out of her premises.
The embattled ex-NDDC MD said she had earlier called the governor to inform him about the invasion of her residence by policemen, adding that Wike came to her rescue at the point the policemen were making strenuous efforts to pull down the security door leading to her room.
Nunieh explained, “They (policemen) started trying to break the security door. Because it was a security door, they spent time to try to break the door.
“Before, I asked them of their warrant of arrest and they said they didn’t have any. I then said I cannot go with any of the policemen. I need to see the warrant of arrest. We are not in a banana republic.
“So, my governor came and sent them out; and said why would they come to arrest a woman like an armed robber? My governor told them that they should leave the compound. I am safely here with my governor in Government House, Port Harcourt.”
Governor Wike had forced his way into Nunieh’s residence to rescue her from the house arrest armed policemen, who stormed her PortHarcourt residence in the early hours of the day, had placed her.
The Rivers State governor was said to have contacted the police high command and demanded the withdrawal of the policemen from Nunieh’s residence since there was no warrant issued for her arrest.
The governor was also said to have subsequently stormed Nunieh’s house with his security details and ordered the policemen out of the ex-NDDC boss’ residence.
Wike then immediately left the house with Nunieh in his official car, which drove back to the Rivers State Government House.
The armed policemen had arrived at Nunieh’s Port Harcourt home at about 4a.m. on Thursday and took position in the residence.
The former NDDC acting managing director was scheduled to be in Abuja on Thursday to appear before the National Assembly committee probing the alleged corruption scandal rocking the Commission in the past few months.