Deputy Comptroller of finance, administration and technical service at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Essien Etop Andrew, has been declared dead after he slumped during a session at the National Assembly.
The top senior customs officer was said to be fielding questions from members of the House of Representatives committee on public account when he coughed and slumped.
Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that Essien Etop Andrew was rushed to the National Assembly’s clinic where he was confirmed dead.
The chairman of the committee, Bamidele Salam, said that the panel will suspend other hearings for one week to honour the late customs chief.
“It was a very sad incident. He was very eloquent and clearly understood the issues being considered.
“He suddenly said he wanted to drink water, to which we obliged and even asked if he needed some tea.
“It was sad he died in active service. Our committee is suspending other hearings for the week in his honour.”
In a statement, spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, said that the green chamber will “support efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and is cooperating fully with all relevant authorities to ensure all necessary protocols are followed.”
This was even as the Speaker of the House,
Tajudeen Abbas, expressed his condolences, saying that the House “is deeply saddened” by the officer’s death.
Source, partly TheCable.
