The immediate-past managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru, is dead. He was 60.

Baru who left the corporation less than a year ago, died after a brief illness that lasted just about 48 hours. 

He passed on at about 2am on Saturday after suddenly falling ill on Thursday, it was learnt.

Although, the the nature of his ailment or cause of death could not be confirmed at the time of filing this report, most death at this period of global pandemic are suspected to be COVID-19 related until proven otherwise.

The death of the engineer was also confirmed by the current head of the corporation, Mr Mele Kyari, on his twitter handle this morning.

He tweeted: “My brother, my friend and my mentor, Dr Maikanti Kachalla Baru, immediate past GMD of NNPC died late last night”.

More details later…