NDDC PROBE: Rivers says nothing must happen to Joi Nunieh

The Rivers State Government on Tuesday warned that nothing must happen to an indigene of the state, Dr. Joi Nunieh, a former Managing Director in the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Nunieh has been in the middle of brick bats occasioned by the probe by the National Assembly into alleged monumental fraud at the interventionist agency.

The former MD has been engaged in a war of words with the Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, Godswill Akpabio, when she accused of sexually harassing her and forcing her to take an oath, which she refused.

Akpabio, on his part, accused her of insubordination and having character issues.

In the statement signed by the state Commissioner of Information, Paulinus Nsirim, the Rivers State government called call on those involved in the ongoing investigations in the NDDC to ensure that Dr. Joi Nunieh does not suffer any harm in the course of their undertakings.

The statement reads: “Rivers State Government has viewed with concern, the recent developments at the Niger Delta Development Commission(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 investigations in the NDDC to ensure that Dr. Joi Nunieh does not suffer any harm in the course of their undertakings.

“We wish to state categorically that the Rivers State Government will never support any action that will prevent or jeopardize the laudable intentions of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to positively reposition the NDDC and fulfill 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 hands 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.”