Matilda Omonaiye/
Reports that the acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang, might have have died of COVID-19 has turned out to be false.
NewsmakersNG learnt that the report of the COVID-19 test carried out on the deceased turned out negative.
Bassey died yesterday, amid ongoing forensic audit of the Commission ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari, raising suspicion in some quarters that he was poisoned.
The National Assembly is also probing the finances of the Commission under its present Interim Management Committee.
Reports of his death being due to COVID-19 was however fueled by a memo issued yesterday by NDDC management, in which it directed all staff to immediately vacate the headquarters of the Commission and also embark on 14 days self-quarantine.
The memo also indicated that the premises would be decontaminated during the period.
It was however silent on the reason for the sudden directives.
