NDDC Says Cause Of Death Of Executive Director ‘Unknown’

The Management of the Niger Development Commission (NDDC), says it cannot determine the cause of death for its Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang, who died on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

NDDC’s official says until the autopsy report of the deceased is released, every story on the purported cause of death remains unfounded and therefore, urged members of the public to disregard all speculations surrounding his demise.

This was contained in a statement by the commission’s Corporate Affairs Director, Mr. Charles Odili, seen by BIGPEN on Saturday.

The statement reads; “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.”

The statement highlighted the rationale behind the sudden closure of the headquarters of the commission shortly after the death of the executive director.

“In line with fears of the current time, the commission took the precautionary measure of temporarily shutting down its headquarters for two weeks. Staff were also asked to self-isolate. This action does not presuppose the cause of death.

“An autopsy report is being expected and when this is ready, it would be released with the consent of the family.

“The NDDC is, therefore, miffed by spurious and uncharitable colouration being championed by mischief makers on the occasion of the demise of Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang, whose untimely death occurred at the early hours of Thursday, the 28th of May, 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.

“Until the autopsy report is released from the commission’s stables, every story on this matter, flies in the face of truth.

“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.”