The former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, has died.
Baru died late Friday night at a yet undisclosed location and of undisclosed ailments. He was 60 years old.
His death was announced early on Saturday morning. Reportedly by the incumbent GMD, Mallam Mele Kyari.
“My brother, my friend and my mentor, Dr Maikanti Kachalla Baru, immediate past GMD of NNPC died late last night,” Kyari wrote on Twitter.
“He was of exemplary character and disposition. May Allah forgive him and have mercy upon him.”
The NNPC reconfirmed Baru’s death through a public statement thus:
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) regrets to announce the demise of its former Group Managing Director (GMD), Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, Friday night.
Dr. Baru, a consummate Mechanical Engineer, died after a brief illness, NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Dr. Kennie Obateru announced in a statement Saturday morning.”
The statement said the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari expressed shock over the sudden death of Dr. Baru, who was the 18th Group Managing Director of the Corporation.
Mallam Kyari described him as a man ‘of exemplary character and disposition.’
Dr. Baru, 60, who was at the helm of the Corporation from July 4th 2016 to July 7th 2019 died after a brief illness in an Abuja hospital.