We Don’t Know Cause of Death Of Our Late Finance Director - NDDC - FOREFRONT NG Cause, Death, Director, Don’t, Finance, Know, Late, NDDC, Of, Our, We

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Nigeria Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has declared that contrary to reports, it is not aware of the cause of the death of its Late Director of Finance, Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang.

This was contained in a statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs of the Commission, Mr Charles Obi Odili, who explained that as at the time of his writing the press release (6.45pm on Friday, 29, 2020), the NDDC was not in the picture of the cause of death.

The NDDC which was reacting to speculations in the media on possible cause of death of Late Chief Bassey Etang, therefore appealed to members of the public to disregard what it described as “false stories” about the commission.

The NDDC Corporate Affairs Director however said that in line with fears of the current time, the Commission took precautionary measure of temporarily shutting down its headquarters for two weeks as well as asked staff to self-isolate, stressing however, that the action of the NDDC does not presuppose the cause of death.

The statement which was made available to Forefront News specifically casted doubt over reports that the late director possibly died of COVID-19 disease.

The NDDC said that it miffed by spurious and uncharitable coloration being championed by mischief makers on the occasion of the demise of Chief Etang, whose untimely death occurred at the early hours of Thursday, May 28, 2020.

Odili explained that an autopsy report is being expected, adding that hen it is ready, it would be released to the public with the consent of his family

The NDDC Corporate Affairs director said that until the autopsy report is released by the Commission, every other story on the matter, flies in the face of truth.

The Commission’s statement as released by Odili reads in part; “The Management of the Niger Development Commission, NDDC, wishes to announce the death of its Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang.

“He died in the early hours of Thursday in Port Harcourt. This announcement is coming at this time because of the need to inform family members. The Commission is not aware of the cause of his death as at the time of this release (6.45pm on Friday, 29, 2020).

“The Commission is on course to issuing a comprehensive fact-based statement in consonance with the bereaved family, but for the unwarranted and unsubstantiated reportage which is flying in devilish propensities.

“The Commission also wishes to state that the rumours over the internal memo for staff of the Commission to stay away, so that sanitary and hygienic cleaning of the Commission can take place, is most unfortunate. The idea behind it is purely precautionary.

“The commission wishes, therefore, to appeal to those mean spirited, whose ambition is to always turn truth on its head, to seek a path of repentance.

“The NDDC is determined to deliver on its core mandate to the good people of the Niger Delta region. Neither slander nor provocative insinuations will deter us.” the statement explained.