The former acting managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Gbene Joy Nunieh, who was sacked recently, has blown hot over he
The former acting managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Gbene Joy Nunieh, who was sacked recently, has blown hot over her dismissal by the minister for Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio. According to her, the minister deceived members of the public with the reason given for her sack from the office.
According to NewsMatrics, Nunieh was recently sacked over issues bothering on alleged sharp practices and unverified contracts payment running into billions of naira.
But the former NDDC boss debunked the allegation leveled against her by Akpabio in an interview. She described the Niger Delta minister as a pathological liar. According to her, Senator Akpabio wanted to compel her to swear to an oath of secrecy and loyalty.
The ex-Ag NDDC managing director alleged that in one of their peace meetings in Abuja, Senator Akpabio, as part of his conditions for peace, wanted her to accept the oath of secrecy and loyalty in the presence of other members, adding that she turned down the request as it was against her Christian faith.
She said that the minister sacked her due to her refusal to go for the oath ritual and again due to her blunt refusal to approve unusual payments for his numerous contracts without verification from Akwa Ibom State and his other loyal contractors. She revealed that Akpabio could not tell the press that she was sacked due to sharp practices in NDDC as acting managing director, adding that she left billions of naira in office as at the time she left.
Dr. Joy added that Akpabio wanted her to divert NDDC funds to sponsor his presidential ambition in 2023, which she said she also refused. She said that she could not join Akpabio to steal the money of Niger Delta people as she is the highest traditional title holder in Ogoniland in Rivers State, and that she could not please Akpabio and offend the Almighty God.
The woman recalled that there was a reason she was the only survivor in a boat mishap, where all the other nine occupants died. She vowed to open up at the right time to tell Nigerians many things about Akpabio and NDDC generally.
“Akpabio is a common thief, he lied to you that I was sacked because of sharp practices. He stole the common wealth of Niger Delta people. Let Akpabio face his probe and leave me alone. He wanted to drag innocent people to fall with him. I refused to join him on his oath of secrecy to cover him by signing fake contract documents.
“That is the sole reason he sacked me. He was also saying that I am not a lawyer. He also boasted that I came to Abuja to beg him. Are you recording? Listen, since he sacked me from my job, I have not travelled out of Port- Harcourt. This common mouthy criminal said I travelled to Abuja to beg him. Akpabio is a pathological liar. He has been running a campaign of calumny to discredit or tarnish my hard-earned reputation.
“I serve God and no amount of calumny will do me any harm. Let me use this privilege to tell Nigerians and the Inspector General of Police that from this moment, if any fly perches on my skin and causes any physical damage to my skin and my immediate family members, Senator Godswill should be held responsible. I know why I am saying this because Akpabio is a dubious character, who is morally unfit to hold any sensitive public office in the country. He will certainly perish. He will not have peace in his entire life,” she said.
However, Godswill Akpabio, in an interview, stated why he sacked Nunieh. His words: “I sacked her because she did not perform up to expectation by paying unverified contracts money running to billions of naira. Majority of the contracts are water hyacinth distilling. Some are without due process. She was bringing embarrassment to the commission, which I am bent on sanitizing through forensic auditing.
“Dr. Joy Nunieh was not sacked because of NYSC certificate forgery as it was peddled in some media. I will forward to you her NYSC certified true copy from the NYSC board to tell you that her sack had no bearing or connection with NYSC, but sharp practices in NDDC.”
