Wike rescues former NNDC boss Joi Nunieh from house arrest after police surround her home

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rovers State has rescued the former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Joi Nunieh from house arrest after security operatives surrounded her house in Port Harcourt this morning.

Over the last week, Ms Nunieh and the Niger Delta minister Godswill Akpabio have been involved in a bitter public exchange over the running of the NDDC. Ms Nunieh has accused Mr Akpabio, the former Akwa Ibom State governor of impropriety, including sexual harassment and handing out NDDC contracts to cronies, including his girlfriend.

In a TV interview, Mr Akpabio lashed out at Ms Nunieh, accusing her of being a woman of questionable character, which he said was responsible for her having four previous husbands. As the war of words between the two escalated, security operatives surrounded Ms Nunieh's home this morning and it is believed she was about to be arrested.

Ms Nunieh, who is billed to appear before the Federal House Of Representatives Committee probing the NDDC, said the security operatives arrived just as she was preparing to catch a flight to Abuja. She was due to give her account on the allegations of misappropriation of NDDC funds.

In an Arise TV interview, Ms Nunieh accused Mr Akpabio, of corruption, sexual harassment, pipelines bombing and abuse of office, among others. She added that she also had to slap his face once when he tried to sexually harass her.

Mr Akpabio has described the allegations of sexual harassment against him as  lies and also debunked other allegations levelled against him. Members of the National Assembly are probing allegations by whistleblowers of payments of over N81bn ($209m) made by the NDDC, detailing frivolous payments.