By: Felix Ikpotor
The former Managing Director of the Interim Committee of the Niger-Delta Development Commission, Dr Joi Yimebe Nunieh has expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike for coming to save her from an attempted arrest by security operatives.
Nunieh described Wike as a real man.
Wike, Thursday morning, moved Nunieh out of her residence at Herbert Macaulay Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, to Government House Port Harcourt after police officers besieged her house.
Speaking to journalists on telephone, Nunieh expressed surprised at the invasion of her home by Police officers, who came without any warrant of arrest and further thanked Governor Wike for living up to his promise of protecting her.
“Senator Magnus Abe called me after a while that the CP in Rivers did not really know about it and that the CP was going to reach me. The CP did reach me and said he was not aware of what was going on.
“The CP asked that I send him my address and which I did and then I saw the cars come in. So, I asked if that was the CP, and they said no. Fortunately, I was just wise enough. I stayed by the door, and they wanted to drag me, so I just banged the door, so they can’t come in.
“So, I now left the front door to call my governor to tell my governor that this is what has happened, and he said no, I should not go anywhere that he was on his way. They kept trying to pull down the door and then I asked them for a warrant of arrest and I said I can’t go anywhere without a warrant of arrest.
“I needed to see the warrant. We are not in a Banana Republic. So, as they were still trying, my Governor came and sent them out that why would they come to arrest a woman like an armed robber that they should leave the compound.
“The Governor then said I should enter the car with him. So, I am now with my Governor in Government House, Port Harcourt.
“I really want to thank the Governor. I really don’t know what to say but my Governor is a man. He is a man. He didn’t just say it that nothing should happen to me, he came to my rescue. I want to say thank you to my Governor,” Nunieh said.
Sources say the arrest was to prevent Nunieh who was billed to appear before the House or Representatives Committee probing financial transactions in the NDDC, from embarking on the journey to Abuja for the testimony.
The Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and Nunieh have been at war over allegations of corruption in the NDDC.
The former MD of NDDC had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, budget padding, fraud, among others, which the Minister has denied and also accused her of having character issues.
