The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday separated a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, from 40 counts of alleged N45.9bn fraud it filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Tompolo
Tompolo was listed as the first accused person in the charge, which the EFCC filed in January before Justice Ibrahim Buba.
Listed as his co-accused persons in the charge were a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu, Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu and Capt. Warredi Enisuoh.
The five were charged alongside four companies – Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electrical Limited, Boloboere Property, Estate Limited and Destre Consult Limited.
But efforts to arraign them had failed since January following Tompolo’s refusal to honour the court summons issued to him to appear in court.
At the Tuesday proceedings, neither Tompolo nor his lawyers, Messrs Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, appeared in court.
The EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Festus Keyamo, told the judge that the charge had been amended with Tompolo’s name removed.
He said Tompolo, who is wanted by the anti-graft agency, would now be arraigned and tried separately from the others.
Keyamo said he had served the amended charge sheet on the other nine accused persons and urged the court to take their pleas.
The 40 counts levelled against them by the EFCC border on conspiracy, theft and fraudulent conversion of money belonging to NIMASA to their private pockets.
The EFCC said the accused persons acted contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and were liable to punishment under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
But upon reading the charges to them on Tuesday, the nine accused persons pleaded not guilty to the entire 40 counts.
Justice Buba later admitted them to bail in the sum of N50m.
He adjourned till May 23 for their trial to commence.
Meanwhile, the judge also adjourned till April 18 for the EFCC to arraign Akpobolokemi and others on another 22 counts. Tompolo had also been listed as the 1st defendant in the charge, but his name was removed following his failure to show up to answer the charges.
The EFCC said he would also be arranged separately on the 22 counts whenever he was produced before the court.
Justice Buba had since January 14 issued a warrant for his arrest. The said warrant was renewed on February 8.
He is also praying the appellate court to order the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, to reassign his case from Justice Buba to another judge, adding that he was afraid he might not get justice before Justice Buba.
Following its inability to substantiate a four-count charge of infraction of the Code of Conduct for Public Servants, the federal government yesterday withdrew the earlier charge filed against a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Peter Orubebe, and replaced it with a one-count charge.
Orubebe
The federal government had in October last year preferred a four-count charge, bordering on false assets declaration and demanding and collection of bribe of about N 70 million against the former minister.
At previous hearings, the tribunal called on the state to call its witnesses but was unable to produce one and instead applied that the hearing be adjourned.
But at the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to the federal government and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mohammed Diri, in an oral application, withdrew the charges earlier filed against Orubebe and replaced them with an amended one-count charge.
He told the court that the application to amend the charge against the former minister was brought pursuant to section 216 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
Orubebe’s counsel, Selekeowei Larry (SAN), did not object to the amendment of the charge, while the tribunal chairman, Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, consequently struck out the charge filed on October 8, 2015, and replaced it with the one filed yesterday.
The amended one-count charge against Orubebe read: “That you, Godsday Peter Orubebe on or about June 29. 2015, while being a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this tribunal, did make a false declaration of assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) when you failed to declare Plot 2057, Asokoro District, Abuja on assumption of office on September 26, 2007, and on leaving office (at the end of your tenure on June 29, 2011) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 23 ( 2) of the same Act.”
Orubebe pleaded not guilty to the single count charge when it was read to him and the prosecution counsel asked the court for a date to commence trial, adding also that the prosecution intended to call three witnesses to prove the allegation against the former minister.
The federal government had arraigned the former minister for an alleged N70 million bribe and false declaration of assets to which he pleaded not guilty to.
He was also alleged to have while in office asked for and accepted a bribe of N50 million from one Pastor Jonathan Alota, for the contract awarded in favour of his company.
In the fourth count, Orubebe was alleged to have while being the minister in 2013 asked for and accepted N20 million from one Pastor Alota as additional bribe for the contract awarded in favour of his company for the construction of skill acquisition Centre at Edo State for ₦1,799,914,251.88 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10 of CCB & T Act as incorporated under paragraph 18 of part 1 fifth schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The troops of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, have arrested the suspected mastermind of the bombing of pipelines belonging to Nigerian Agip Oil Company in Bayelsa State.
Hoodlums had on January 28, 2016, bombed Agip oil pipelines located in Orukari, Golubokiri and Kpongbokiri communities in Brass Local Government Area of the state.
The attacks on the pipelines had resulted in massive spillage of crude oil from the Agip pipelines into the sea and fishing camps.
But on Wednesday, the Commander, OPS, Maj. Gen. Alani Okunlola, in a statement by the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Col. Ado Isa, said their troops arrested the mastermind of the explosion.
Okunlola gave the name of the mastermind as Prince Alvin Cockman Oyegun, alias ‘Commander Abula’.
The OPS commander said the suspect was arrested at Idema community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
He added that the suspect allegedly masterminded the attack on the Agip manifold, located at Gbobokiri, in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State on January 28, 2016, which led to oil spillage in the area.
Okunlola said the attack was on a 24-inch manifold that conveyed crude oil and gas.
He added that the hunt for other suspects and accomplices was ongoing.
The OPS commander warned all miscreants engaged in the destruction of oil installations to desist from such criminal acts.
He said the command remained resolute in its fight to rid the Niger Delta region of oil thieves, pipeline vandals and other criminals.
He urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious persons to the security outfit.
Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday rejected the plea to set aside the bench warrant issued on January 14 against a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.
Tompolo
The judge, in a bench ruling, said the warrant of arrest issued against Tompolo still stood and ordered all the law enforcement agencies in the country to ensure that Tompolo was produced before him on February 19.
Tompolo is wanted by the court over an alleged N34bn fraud, which he allegedly perpetrated in conjunction with nine others.
He is to be arraigned along with his alleged accomplices on 40 counts filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
His alleged accomplices include the immediate-past Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi
Tompolo’s accomplice the immediate-past Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi in court this morning.
Others are Kime Engozu, Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu and Capt. Warredi Enisuoh.
The suspects were charged along with four companies, namely: Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electrical Limited, Boloboere Property and Estate Limited and Destre Consult Limited.
The suspects were accused of diverting and converting to their personal use a sum of N34bn belonging to NIMASA.
The offence, according to EFCC, is contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and were liable to punishment under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
The suspects were supposed to have been arraigned on January 14, but Tompolo had shunned a court’s summons dated January 12 to appear, leading the judge to issuing a bench warrant against him.
The judge had ordered that Tompolo should be produced before him on Monday.
But rather than come to court, Tompolo, through his lawyer, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), brought an application urging the judge to set aside the arrest warrant issued against him.
While arguing the application, Oyetibo claimed that his client had not been properly served with the charge sheet and the summons.
He claimed that though the court granted the EFCC an order for substituted service, the anti-graft agency only pasted the charge sheet and summons at a wrong address.
He urged the court to rule that his client had not been served and that the bench warrant ought not to have been issued.
Oyetibo also argued that the Federal Government did not obtain the leave of the court to change its designation on the charge sheet from plaintiff to complainant.
But Justice Buba dismissed the application, noting that Oyetibo was in court because he was briefed by Tompolo, and such Tompolo could not claim that he was not aware of the charge pending against him.
The judge described as frivolous the argument that the Federal Government did not first seek the leave of the court before amending its status from plaintiff to complainant in the charge and urged counsel not to waste the time of the court on mere technicalities.
He held, “The entire gamut of this application is for the court to set aside the order granting substituted service of the charge.
“The first defendant missed the point completely. The law is that anybody like the EFCC has the power to arrest anyone if it has reasonable belief that such person has committed an offence.
“On January 12 when the application for substituted service was moved, one of the averments was that the applicant was invited by the EFCC to answer to some allegations, but up till today he has not deemed it fit to honour the invitation.
“It is very clear that the order for substituted service is more than justified against a man who has refused to honour lawful invitation by the EFCC.
“Not only is the accused aware of the charge but has further briefed counsel representing him, who on his behalf, demanded for all processes filed.
“Therefore, all the authorities cited on this issue are, with respect, misconceived. Whether served by substituted means or not, the accused is aware of the charge.
“The application challenging service is misconceived same be and is hereby dismissed.
“The order for arrest still subsists. All authorities in Nigeria are hereby further ordered to ensure that the order of this court for the arrest of Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo is carried out to the letter.”
A Delta State group Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-CORRUPTION Crusade (FHRACC) has raised alarm over an alleged plans by the Nigerian military to cause mayhem in Gbaramatu Kingdom in the name of searching for the culprits who are responsible for the bombing of oil pipelines.
Minmah, Soldier
According to a statement issued by the group National President, Alaowei Cleric Esq, the group said that the military has issued an evacuation warning to the members of the community or face a hostile invasion.
Alaowei also noted that the soldiers shoot sporadically every night from Warri Naval Base to the direction of these communities.
The group President said ” The military attempt to unearth the perpetrators of the recent pipeline bombings in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West LGA of Delta State has taken a different dimension.
“What the military Joint Task Force is doing to the riverine communities is a demonstration of military prowess to its enemies in order to coerce them into doing its biddings.
“We are disturbed or rather appalled by the military belligerent attitudes towards the riverine Ijaw communities over the pipeline destruction by hoodlums.
“If the military refuses to retrace its aggressive steps towards these defenseless Ijaw communities then we may be forced to believe that the military has an ulterior motive against the Ijaw communities beyond looking for the culprits of the dastardly act.
“Our attention has been drawn to the activities of the Nigerian armed forces to the inhabitants of Sandfield 1 & 2, Ogbogbene, Hotel and Fenegbene in Warri South West LGA of Delta State.
“We’re reliably informed by members of these communities that the military has send a warning to them that they should evacuate theirs ancestral lands.
“They also said the military send a stern warning to them that should they refuse to heed to its warning, it’ll invade the communities in the name of searching for the culprits of the pipeline bombings.
“In a manner apparently to manifest its plan, the military is shooting sporadic gun shorts almost in every night from the Warri Naval Base into the direction the of these communities.
“The people cannot sleep with their two eyes close, while several others have deserted the communities as a result of the threatening gun shorts. Even up till this moment they are still running for their dear lives.
FHRACC agreed to the constitutional responsibility of the soldiers to fish out culprits but warned that it sh ouldn’t be used as an avenue to infringe on peoples’ right.
“We are quite aware that the military has the constitutional responsibility to apprehend the culprits at anywhere, it should not use its sacred duties to invade other people’s rights without any justification.
“These communities are far from the place where the said acts were alleged to have been carried out. What is happening to these communities has crumbled the business of the area. The people cannot go about their lawful business since the military threatened to attack them.”
Palpable fear gripped the residents of coastal communities of Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State following explosion that rocked oil pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company.
The explosion, which was said to have been triggered by dynamite attacks allegedly launched by suspected militants affected pipelines located in Orukari, Golubokiri and Kpongbokiri communities of Brass.
The development, it was learnt had led to many residents of the riverside communities scampering for safety.
It was learnt that the attacks were launched on Thursday night and had led to massive spillage of crude from the Agip pipeline into the sea and fishing camps.
Confirming the incident, member representing Brass Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Israel Sunny-Goli, condemned the attack on Agip pipelines.
Sunny-Goli, in a statement on Saturday, said, “Preliminary investigations indicate that the bombing of the pipeline was an act of sabotage carried out to hurt the economic interests of Bayelsa state and Nigeria.
“The latest explosion coming after bombing of pipelines recently in the same area is worrisome as it is capable of forcing oil companies out of operation which would have adverse effect on Nigeria’s economy.”
Sunny-Goli called on security agencies to beef up security around oil facilities to ensure they prevent future attack by economic saboteurs bent on crippling Nigeria’s economy.
The lawmaker added, “I want to condemn the latest attack on Agip pipeline at Kpongbokiri. This is a clear sabotage by economic saboteurs. Recently, they blasted pipeline at Orukari and Golubokiri.
” I condemn this latest attack on Agip pipeline at Kpongbokiri in its entirety. It is sabotage against Nigeria in a bid to cripple the economy at a time the nation is struggling with decline in revenue due to the fall in oil prices.
“It is common knowledge that because of the low price of oil which is our main source of revenue, many states can hardly pay workers’ salaries. This sabotage is capable of crippling the economy if not urgently curbed. If these attacks are not checked and the perpetrators brought to book and Agip decides to pull out of Bayelsa, it would be disastrous for us as a people.”
He urged Bayelsans, especially those that have oil facilities around them to be be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to security agencies to prevent further attacks.
ABUJA—President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, in Nairobi, Kenya, said that non-clean up of oil spillages in the Niger Delta especially in Ogoniland, was responsible for the militancy the region witnessed in times past.
President Buhari
The president consequently vowed to clean up the land by implementing the United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP’s recommendations to save the land.
President Buhari made the promise during a visit to the United Nations Office in the Kenyan capital.
He also appealed for more support from the United Nations in the clean up of the region.
He said: “When I came into office on May 29, 2015, one of the first tasks I carried out was to authorise the implementation of the recommendations of the UNEP report for the clean-up of Ogoniland.
“The devastation caused by oil spillage has destroyed many lives and livelihoods and is clearly one of the reasons many people in that region lost faith in government and resorted to the many criminal activities we are seeing in the region today.
“The action our government took to implement UNEP’s recommendations has given the indigenes of the region hope that there are better days ahead. Let me, therefore, express appreciation on behalf of the Government of Nigeria to UNEP and other development partners for their cooperation and support on this very delicate matter and also request for their continued support as we implement the recommendations and transform the fortunes of the region.”
President Buhari also applauded the outcome of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, held in Paris, France, in December last year.
He called for rapid urbanization as the world population increases.
FORMER General Officer Commanding, GOC, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, Government Ekpumupolo, alias Tompolo, made a volte face, Thursday, saying he would appear before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, which issued a bench warrant for his arrest, January 14, but “at the appropriate time.”
Tompolo
The bench warrant followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which had filed different charges against Tompolo, including diversion of N34 billion belonging to the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, NIMASA to personal use and laundering of N22.6 billion.
Tompolo, who spoke through his Media Adviser and Consultant, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo also said he would never commence war against the Federal Government having accepted amnesty in 2009, reiterating that he was not party to the recent three-day bombing of crude oil and gas pipelines in Delta state.
“Tompolo has no reason to bomb pipelines because of EFCC case, he knows he is innocent. As he has stated in several occasions, he will appear in court at the appropriate time as his lawyers are working towards that,” he said.
Before now, Tompolo had said, “The truth of the matter is that I do not know anything about the N34 billion naira EFCC is talking about, first, it was 13 billion issue, now it is 34 billion. I am not a signatory to any of the companies mentioned in the said 34 billion case. So I do not know where this one is coming from.”
Reacting to the allegation by another ex-militant leader, Africanus Ukparasia, aliast “General” Africa that he bombed pipelines, Tompolo said he alerted the public that some aggrieved All Progressives Congress, APC, members in Bayesla and Delta states want to destroy national assestsin the Niger Delta state and finger him because of the outcome of the Bayelsa governorship election.
According to the statement, “And true to his fears, these set of APC chieftains that joined the party immediately after the presidential election of 2015 were the first people to accuse him of bombing the pipelines to divert public attention.”
On speed boats for war
Tompolo said “it is the biggest lie of the year, as the military is also aware of the boats and pick-up vans he purchased in 2011 for the surveillance of oil facilities as he was working hand in hand with the military then.
“Tompolo is a man of peace and he is poised for the development of the coastal Niger Delta region. He prays that this matter be amicably resolved so that everyone will know that he always put his people above his person gains.”
“And true to his fears, these set of APC chieftains that joined the party immediately after the presidential election of 2015, were the first people to accuse him of bombing the pipelines to divert public attention.
“These new APC members who the former chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, described as parasites, also threatened to cause problem in the Niger Delta region if the pipeline surveillance contract in Delta State already awarded to Messers Ocean Marine Solution is not re-awarded to them.
This is a clear testimony of their involvement in the bombing of the pipelines. Since then, we all have seen their role in misleading the military and the general public.
“Now, it could be recalled that this same Africanus Ukparasia threatened Tompolo not to show interest in the elections, as he was a strong supporter of the APC candidate. He killed and maimed fellow Ijaw people because of a governorship election, and now he is the one accusing Tompolo of bombing pipelines.”
WARRI—IJAW elders in Delta State, yesterday, said it was impracticable for them to hand over the former General Officer Commanding, GOC, of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, to security agencies because they neither have the power to do so nor know his (Tompolo) whereabouts currently.
Tompolo
They also said that they do not have any information that Tompolo was involved in the three-day bombing of crude oil and gas pipelines in the state, while many see the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s case against him as a form of persecution.
The Federal Government, last weekend, asked Ijaw communities to hand over suspects involved in the bombing, alleged to be hiding in their areas, to security agencies, while the Joint Task Force, JTF, had earlier threatened to hold community leaders responsible for further acts of pipeline vandalism in their communities.
Chairman, Ijaw (Izon) Okosu –Otu (Ijaw Council of Elders), Delta State, Chief Bare Etolor, said, “It is unfair for the Federal Government to ask Ijaw communities to handover suspects that carried out the bombing because we do not know them. In addition, I do not see how anybody expects us to handover Tompolo to security agencies because we do not have the power to do that, except they want to humiliate us.”
Another Ijaw leader in Gbaramatu Kkingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekame, who re-echoed Etolor’s position, said it was impossible for them to handover Tompolo to the government.
Some Niger Delta and Ijaw youth groups, including the Niger Delta Security Watch Organszation of Nigeria, NWSON and Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, threw their weight behind the elders, saying that the understanding of many Ijaw people was that the government was persecuting Tompolo because he refused to join the All Progressives Congress, APC.
However, Executive Director of Centre for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged, CENTREP, Warri, Delta State, Mr. Oghenjabor Ikimi, said there was nothing wrong in the residents of the affected areas and ex-militants giving useful information to security agencies to unmask the culprits.
We don’t know the bombers —Chief Etolor
Chief Etolor toldVanguard: “It is unfortunate that the Presidency wants to handle the matter from this angle. Which of the Northern elders did they tell to produce the Boko Haram leaders that are bombing in their areas. So, why are they telling us to handover people who bombed pipelines here?
“If they know the person that did it and ask us to help produce the person and we see him, we can assist with information if we have any. How can anybody say Ijaw leaders should handover suspects? We do not know who did it.
“It is not right. Even if they tell us the person, we do not have arms to arrest anybody. What they are doing is to make us not to have confidence in this government. What power do we have over armed militants? We can only talk to them as elders, not arrest them with guns.
“I am not supporting criminality. In fact, anybody among us, the Ijaw elders, can be a victim anytime. It is difficult for us to produce Tompolo. If they cannot see him with all their intelligence, where do they expect us to see him? I have not even seen Tompolo myself for ages.”
On his part, Chief Gbenekame said, “How can you say we should hand over Tompolo to the EFCC, are we security agents? If he had dealings with EFCC, they should arrest him. Why are they calling Gbaramatu elders?
“What I know is that Tompolo made many enemies when he worked for the Federal Government to guard the pipelines. He burnt illegal refineries, razed boats and these people are not happy. He has been a partner to the government all this while, that is why we called for a political solution to the matter.”
Meanwhile, Niger Delta Secuity Watch Organisation of Nigeria, NSWON and Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, in a joint statement by their leaders, Dickson Bekederemo and Austin Ozobo, said: “The people of Niger Delta and the ljaw in particular are not at war with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. However, the ljaw will never sacrifice their bravest to satisfy the quest for neo-colonialism. When the moment comes, we shall stand with Tompolo.
“We believe that what the Federal Government wants to do is a repeat of what the Russians did to Poland during World War II, kill the bravest of their braves, the rest is history. We wish to inform President Buhari that in the hearts and minds of every Niger Deltan lies an embryonic Tompolo waiting to hatch.
“We call on President Buhari not to be deceived by a few pipelines surveillance contract seekers. There was Judea, yet Christ resurrected from the dead. There were traitors, yet Allah protected Prophet Mohammed in the cave with a cob web when people led his enemies to capture him.
“It may interest you to know that Tompolo is a strong member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, even in defeat. Unlike some elements of the party from our region that are bread and butter members. Tompolo alleged that the APC- led government persuaded him to decamp to its fold. The party until date, did not refute his assertion.
“Suddenly, the EFCC froze the bank account of Global West Vessels Limited. The management of the company initiated an action against EFCC in court. The agency bluntly refused to file a defence, only for the agency to file charges against him in another Federal High Court.
“The question we will like to ask is: Is Tompolo the chief executive or the Managing Director of Global West Vessels Limited? Assuming, for the purpose of argument, that Global Vessels Limited committed financial crime, is Tompolo the alter ego of the company? The EFCC invitation and subsequent harassment and persecution of Tompolo goes beyond what meets the eye.”
A clash is likely between the Nigerian military and Niger Delta militants who have returned to their old ways of bombing oil facilities following the deployment of soldiers to oil pipelines nationwide.
Urhobo Militants
SUNDAY PUNCH gathered on Saturday that the operation to take over the pipelines from the militants and vandals was being jointly undertaken by the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, as well as other security agencies.
It was learnt that the military would deploy all equipment at its disposal, including aircraft, drones and some special pipeline monitoring facilities to protect oil installations nationwide.
Bombings of oil pipelines resumed in the Niger Delta, particularly Delta State, following a court in order that a militant leader in the area, Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, be arrested for failing to appear in court over a N34bn fraud allegation.
Tompolo had, in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari last week, denied the allegation, urging security agencies to focus their search for pipeline vandals on the leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa and Delta states.
Before the bombing of oil installations in the Niger Delta, vandals had been destroying pipelines at Arepo, Ogun State and some parts of Lagos State.
Buhari, while speaking at Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, had vowed to deal with the resurgence of oil theft, vandalism of pipelines and insecurity in the Niger Delta.
Although the security source, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH on condition of anonymity, did not disclose the number of military personnel that were being deployed nationwide, he said the security agents had already taken over the protection of oil pipelines.
The Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, in an interview with one of our correspondents, confirmed that the military had taken over protection of oil pipelines nationwide.
He said, “They have taken over protection all over Nigeria. It is just modalities that need to be concluded but with this kind of thing, I believe we have enough deployment to oversee all the pipelines in the nation and we will continue to do that.”
“One person or some groups — criminal groups — cannot hold this nation to ransom. Nobody can hold this nation to ransom and will be living, no!
“All security agencies are in top gear to ensure that these people, whoever is involved, will be brought to book and whoever thinks that we cannot do it should try to continue doing it and let’s see who will pay the price at the end of the day.”
When asked the type of equipment that would be used by the military, he said the military would deploy high-tech modern security networks to protect the pipelines from attacks by vandals and saboteurs.
Abubakar restated the determination of the military and other security agencies to track down those behind the last attack on the pipelines in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, last week.
The Defence spokesman had said the government launched Operation AWATSE to ensure the protection of the pipelines.
Investigations revealed that troops of the task force had been deployed to various communities in the Niger Delta in search of suspected vandals.
Confirming the deployment, the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, also known as Operation Pulo Shield, said on Saturday that its troops had taken over the waterways, creeks and pipelines in the oil-rich region.
The Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre of Operation Pulo Shield, Col. Ado Isa, disclosed this while speaking with SUNDAY PUNCH in a telephone interview.
Isa said the troops had intensified patrol on the waterways and the creeks with a view to protecting further attack on the nation’s oil facilities.
He explained that athough the troops had been working round the clock in line with its mandate to secure the Niger Delta region, they had redoubled their efforts following the recent bombing of oil installations in a part of the region.
According to him, the Commander of Operation Pulo Shield, Maj.-Gen. Alani Okunlola, has directed sector commanders under him to ensure that those behind the recent attack on oil installations were brought to book
He said, “The Operation Pulo Shield is pursuing its mandate, one of which is securing the nation’s oil installations and fighting criminality with renewed vigour.
“It is not only manning or patrolling the waterways, we have dominated the entire creeks and the water channels of the Niger Delta and not only within the areas that the explosions occurred.
“You can see that all their (militants) boasting that they are going to continue with their bombings will not be possible again because the Operation Pulo Shield, in conjunction with other security agencies within the Niger Delta region, has intensified and heightened patrol.”
Isa pointed out that with the domination of the creeks, waterways and pipelines dominated by the troops, there would be no space for the militants to operate again.
“As I speak now, all the waterways, pipelines, creeks and channels have been dominated by men of the Operation Pulo Shield, in conjunction with other security agents,” he added.
ABUJA- FORMER Federal Commissioner for Information for Information and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the alleged castigation and harassment of the people of the Niger Delta and for the maintenance of peace and stability in the region.
Edwin Clark
In the letter dated January 22, 2016, Chief Clark specifically asked President Buhari to investigate the humiliation of Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), the proposed scrapping of the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Warri South West Local Government, Delta State established by former President Goodluck Jonathan and refund of the money already released for the project as disclosed by the Minister of Transportation, Chiibuike Rotimi Amaechi when he appeared before Senate Committee on Marine Transport, headed by Senator Ahmed Sani.
The elder statesman advised President Buhari to be wary of some persons around him who may be misinforming him and creating problems for him. He said that the Niger Delta region lays the golden egg, yet goes through humiliation and harassment by the government, adding that except for one or two persons, no Niger Delta person or any one from Ijaw land owns an oil bloc, as they were being controlled by other people from other regions.
Chief Clark who condemned the renewed blowing up of major oil and gas pipelines by militants in the Niger Delta region of the country, urged the president to bring to book all the culprits even as he said that Tompolo, a civilized Nigerian can never be part of the renewed bombing of the pipes. He said, “I totally condemn the vandalisation of oil and gas pipelines and will give you 100 per cent support for whatever action you take to bring the culprits to book. It is with heavy heart that I decided to take record of pipeline vandalisations that have taken place within the last two years.”
BENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, regretted that the current tension in the Niger Delta was created by the immediate past Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led administration through the empowerment of people he described as “wrong guys who showed capacity for violence.”
Governor Oshiomhole
He urged the new Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru and the Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs, Prof. Claudius Daramola to reform the ministry, saying, “You have a huge challenge due to the disastrous performance of your predecessors under the last PDP government which made more noise about the Niger Delta than work.
“They empowered the wrong people because they showed capacity for violence and then ignored the real people who were peaceful, who just wanted development. Therefore, you have a huge task to bring development and carry out massive reforms for our people and you need to re-enlighten our people to recognise that the long term challenge of bringing prosperity to our people will not necessarily continue to be driven by intervention agencies, it has to do with creating jobs and making the region peaceful.”
Oshiomhole spoke when the new leadership of the Niger Delta Ministry, led by the minister, Pastor Uguru, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Benin City.
Uguru, who spoke earlier, said: “We are in the state to assess the progress in the Niger Delta states. It is our position that we should not begin projects in the state without the knowledge, commitment and collaboration of the home government because this will help us in future planning to agree even before we propose any project.
“We want to channel our resources in a way that will be best utilized so as to avoid wastage. We are also going to take priorities very seriously, we will put resources where they will be optimally utilized.”
Oshiomhole further admonished the ministry to pay serious attention to the issue of environmental degradation. “I am very worried about the damage to the environment by major oil companies that are allowed to flare their gas even in the 21st century. The technologies are there. It is possible to convert the gas we are wasting away to resources for our country,” he said.
Abuja — Top militant leaders, who have been causing havoc in the Niger Delta and major oil depots in the South-West, have laid out conditions under which they would stop the renewed bombing of oil installations and embrace peace.
Urhobo Militants
The militants told one of our correspondents in Abuja that they would only drop their arms when the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, meets and negotiates with them.
The militants issued the position after a secret meeting involving their leaders from the Niger Delta and their counterparts in Alepo, Agric, Epe, Ikorodu, Itoki and Igbokoda areas of Lagos.
One of the top leaders, who gave his name as General Levi, told Vanguard that they would not want to back down until the Petroleum Minister meets them and secures amnesty for their members to avoid being persecuted by security agencies.
The militant leaders also said after meeting with the minister, they would thereafter take over the responsibility of tracking and exposing those bent on causing further destruction to all facilities and meting our appropriate punishment to them.
They said they had been pleading for amnesty since the days of the President Jonathan’s administration but nobody took them into consideration and were ready to work with the new administration to bring about an end to oil bunkering and pipeline vandalisation in the Niger Delta region and the South-West.
Levi said: “We are ready to drop our arms and denounce hostility with the government on the condition that the Minister of Petroleum will meet with us and hear our own side of the story. We are not against the government but we have genuine issues yet to be addressed by successive administrations in this country.
“We are ready to commence discussion and denounce association with this present situation. From now henceforth, we are ready to block any channel for anyone not to go through to bomb oil pipelines.”
The bombing of oil installations in the Niger Delta commenced last week as militants blew up major oil and gas pipelines in the area.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, ordered the arrest of a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).
Tompolo
Trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba issued a bench warrant for Tompolo’s arrest after he failed to appear in court to face the criminal charges filed against him and others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The judge had, on Wednesday, summoned Tompolo, ordering him to appear yesterday, but the accused did not turn up.
Other accused in the charge include a former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, who appeared in court in crutches; Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited, Kemi Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Limited, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Limited, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.
They were all in court and represented by counsel, except Tompolo.
Meanwhile, the charge was not read to the other accused persons as it is a joint trial, which requires the physical presence of all the accused persons, before the charge could be read to them and their plea taken.
EFCC’s prosecutor, Festus Keyamo, informed the court, yesterday, that the summons and charge were duly affixed on a conspicuous part of Tompolo’s home at 1, Chief Agbanu DDPA Extension, Warri, Delta State, as ordered by the court.
He said Tompolo ignored previous invitations by EFCC during investigation and failed to report to make a statement.
“We were able to go to Warri on Wednesday and pasted the processes on his wall. We took photographs of them as ordered by this court
“In view of the absence of the first accused (Tompolo) despite being served, may we come under Section 141 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to apply for a warrant of arrest.
“Even at the point of investigation, the accused person spurned all invitations to him. Now he has also disobeyed the court. We, therefore, apply under Section 141 so that we can compel his attendance,” Keyamo said.
Akpobolokemi’s lawyer, Dr Joseph Nwobike, SAN, said though he was not representing Tompolo, it would be in the interest of justice if the former militant leader was given more time to be in court having only been served with the summons a day earlier.
“A person served in Warri, Delta State, may need some time to come to court, moreso, when he is outside jurisdiction,” he said.
But Keyamo pointed out that before the summons were issued, Tompolo had acted like an “outlaw.”
Ruling, Justice Buba said there was evidence that Tompolo had consistently ignored EFCC’s invitations, so he had no option than to order his arrest.
The court said, “The process is to serve him with summons to appear. Where he appears, that is the end of the matter. He will answer the charges. Where he fails to appear in obedience to the summons, the other process is to compel his attendance by way of arrest.
“There is an affidavit showing that the first defendant was served as ordered by the court. In the circumstance, the court is in a position to exercise its discretion to order for the arrest of Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) to compel his attendance to answer the allegations before the court.
“It is so hereby ordered that the warrant of arrest of Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) shall be issued forthwith.”
The accused persons in the 40-count charge were alleged to have diverted N34 billion, which accrued from a public private partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist Limited for personal use.
The alleged offence contravenes Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
Meanwhile, further hearing in the matter was adjourned till February 8.
WARRI — FORMER Niger Delta militants, weekend, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to leave ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, alone and follow the rule of law in its dealings with him. The erstwhile agitators, who met under the auspices of the Transformed Niger Delta Ex-militants Forum, asserted that some persons, who were envious of Tompolo, wrote a petition against him to the EFCC, but advised that the commission in the discharge of its duties should respect the rule of law.
In a communiqué signed by its national president, Meshach Bebenimibo and others, they said, “We appeal to the President as a matter of urgency to instruct the EFCC to follow due process within 1999 Constitution as amended.” At the meeting held in Warri were Prince Bebenimibo, Bayelsa , Edo, Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Ondo coordinators of the group, Peter Ayeebide, Austin Peremobowei, Korebor Minama, Anthony Youbai, Oluwah Michael and Oloye Tamarayende.
They said: “We want EFCC to leave Tompolo alone because the petitioners are acting out of jealousy to indict and incarcerate him, that is why they are lying to the whole world that Tompolo sold the land for the building of Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko.”
According to the communiqué, “The petitioners know the truth and the truth is that Tompolo only sold the International Diving Institute buildings at Kurutie community and the place was sand filled before he built the school. Among the structures are lecture halls, multipurpose pavilion, administrative block, vice- chancellor’s lodge and hostels for male and female students.”
“The previous government brought valuers and did all necessary legal things and collected VAT money before paying him about 90 per cent as agreed.
“We also urge EFCC to have a rethink and defreeze Mieka and GlobalWest accounts.” The group, however, commended President Buhari for his interest in the region, particularly the inclusion of fund for the Amnesty programme in the 2016 Budget presented to the National Assembly, saying, “We really appreciate your kind gesture.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has challenged Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani Uguru, and his Minister of State, Cladius Omoleye Daramola, to become agents of change who would turn around the fortunes of the Niger Delta for the better. The party threw the challenge via a statement issued Sunday in Port Harcourt, in which it congratulated the two ministers on their appointment, describing them as seasoned and patriotic administrators whose appointment demonstrates President Muhammadu Buhari’s desire for the immediate emancipation and development of the Niger Delta region.
APC Rivers State
Rivers APC in the statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, appealed to the ministers “to convoke, as a matter of urgency, a Summit of Niger Delta Elders and Stakeholders to proffer solutions to the myriad of problems facing the region so as to make the work of the honourable ministers easier.”
While hoping that the suggestion would be accepted and implemented, Rivers APC drew attention to some of the major issues that need the immediate action of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, namely:
1. Re-organisation/Reformation and Streamlining of the Amnesty Programme to make it more effective and thus ensure greater stability and security of the region. The programme should also be made to accommodate Cross River and Imo states as the exclusion of the youths of these two states poses a security risk to the region.
2. Complete and equip the Skills Acquisition Centres in the region, making them functional so as to train Niger Delta youths and women, empowering them to become meaningfully engaged on a sustainable basis.
3. Immediate completion of the East-West Road, as well as construction of the East-West Coastal Rail Line.
4. Complete overhaul of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to stamp out the massive corruption going on there and make it more effective.
5. Release of funds due to the NDDC to enable it complete on-going projects and initiate new ones to meet the needs of the people of the Niger Delta people.
6. Create an Eco-friendly environment by embarking upon projects that will protect Niger Delta communities from oil spillage and gas flaring.
7. Direct funding of host communities and effective partnering between oil companies and their host communities.
8. Relocation of corporate headquarters of oil companies to areas of their operations.
9. Ensure Environmental Impact Assessment for all projects to be executed in the Niger Delta.
10. Ensure that the Niger Delta gets its fair share of appointments and employment opportunities so as to reduce the massive unemployment of the youths of the region.
11. Ensure even distribution of projects and facilities as the deliberate exclusion of some communities is a time bomb that may explode at anytime.
12. Give qualified contractors from the Niger Delta priority consideration in the award of contracts as a means of further empowering the people of the region.
“We are convinced that if some of these ideas are implemented, the vision of President Buhari for the Niger Delta region may have been accomplished,” Rivers APC said.
The Niger Delta Self-Determination Movement has appealed to the United Nations to assist the Niger Delta in its quest to own and control its resources.
Ankio Briggs
Niger Delta activist and convener of the NDSDM, Ms Annkio Briggs, explained that their demand was not for a secession.
“This is not a call for secession. After consultations, we came up with the position to control our resources,” she said.
According to her, their demand for self-determination is based on the lopsided nature of resource allocation in the country.
Briggs urged the UN to assist the Niger Delta with the conduct of a credible referendum in the region in order to enable it exercise its rights and the will of the people.
She said, “After due consultations with our various peoples, we have reached a conclusion and our position was reached pursuant to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“We are also relying on the UN declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and the various bills of rights in the Niger Delta.
“We also rely on the UN address by President Muhammadu Buhari at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 28, 2015.
“The President stated in his address that the unresolved question of self-determination for the Palestinian people and those of Western Sahara, both nations haven’t been adjusted by the UN as qualifying for this inalienable right must now be assured and fulfilled without any further delay or obstacle.”
She noted that being granted self-determination would enable the people of the Niger Delta to exercise their right to autonomy in matters relating to their local affairs, religion, education, economic activities, lands and other natural resources management, among others.
“Pursuant to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the people of the Niger Delta have articulated our demand for self-determination through various ethnic nationalities’ bills of rights.”
When Boko Haram captured territory in Nigeria’s northeast last year and declared a caliphate, there were real fears for the sovereignty of Africa’s most populous nation.
OIL
A deadline is looming for the military to end the six years of violence, with signs that troops have wrested back control of most of the towns and villages lost to the Islamists.
But now President Muhammadu Buhari is facing another potential headache with the revival of separatist sentiment in the country’s southeast and renewed debate over the sharing of oil wealth.
Recent weeks have seen a wave of protests calling for an independent state of Biafra, 45 years after the end of the brutal civil sparked by a previous declaration of independence.
Now, campaigners in the oil-producing Niger delta are demanding total control of resources to develop the region, which remains under-developed despite billions of dollars earned from crude.
Last Friday, the Niger Delta Self-Determination Movement (NDSDM) lobby group, declared the current agreement, whereby oil revenue is divided among Nigeria’s 36 states, was unfair.
“The 13 percent (share for the Niger Delta) enshrined in the 1999 constitution by the military is depriving us of our God-given resources,” the group’s convener Annkio Briggs told reporters in Lagos.
“We want 100 percent control and ownership of our oil so that we can control our future.”
– Northern ‘dominance’ –
Nigeria’s crude-reliant economy has been battered by the fall in global oil prices, hampering government spending and even the payment of state-sector salaries.
Crude accounts for 90 percent of Nigeria’s export earnings and 70 percent of government overall revenue.
In 2014, the country earned $77 billion from oil exports, according to the US Department of Energy, down from $84 billion in 2013 and $94 billion in 2012.
How much each state in the federation gets from the sector has long been a thorny issue, exposing barely concealed regional and ethnic rivalries.
Demands for a greater share of oil revenue were a factor in the violence that gripped the delta in the 2000s until a government amnesty programme, which ends this year, bought off militants.
Briggs’ group argues Nigeria’s political architecture, with 19 states classed as northern and 17 in the south, unfairly penalises the southern states where oil is found.
“Of the 774 local government areas (administrative divisions within each state), the north is given almost 70 percent,” she said, calling it “manipulations for… socio-economic and political dominance”.
She blamed a succession of northern-dominated military governments for forcing through the revenue-sharing agreement down the barrel of a gun “without our free, prior and informed consent”.
Briggs denied calling for a break away from the federation but argued every region instead should use its own natural resources to develop itself.
The NDSDM was founded last year during a national conference convened by former president Goodluck Jonathan at which delegates recommended the delta region received 18 percent of oil revenue.
The recommendation was not implemented before Jonathan left office.
– ‘Politically motivated’ –
Nigeria is almost evenly split between a Muslim-majority north and largely Christian south and the sharp division informs most aspects of political debate.
But the argument for so-called “fiscal federalism” is seen by some as unrealistic, with sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing not sufficiently developed yet to be sustainable.
Anyakwee Nsirimovu, of the Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition pressure group, said demands from southern pressure groups were predictable now Buhari, a northern Muslim, was in power.
“Why is it after the defeat of Jonathan you see the likes of Annkio Briggs, MASSOB (Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra) and IPOB (Indigenous Peoples of Biafra) asking for resource control and self-determination?” he asked.
The complaints in fact exposed the failure of Jonathan, from the oil-producing Bayelsa state, to help his southern kinsmen during his six years in power, he argued.
“Those who lost out in the power equation are behind the crisis,” he claimed.
But Tony Nnadi, of the Movement for New Nigeria, said every ethnic group had the right to either belong to or pull out of Nigeria, nearly 102 years after the country was formed.
“In 1914, the so-called Nigeria came into being through an amalgamation of southern and northern protectorates by the British colonial power,” he said.
“By the provisions of the amalgamation, we have the right since 2014 to renegotiate the basis of our continued existence.
The experiences of various ethnic groups “in the last 100 years have shown we cannot continue in the marriage”, he added.
COORDINATOR of Ijaw Monitoring Group, Comrade Joseph Evah in this interview calls for unity of purpose among political leaders of the Niger Delta extraction. He opines that with a common voice, the long expected development of the region may become realistic.
By Charles Kumolu
What is your perception of the state of the nation?
Ohanaeze Ndigbo
The way the Federal Government is handling the Biafra agitation in the East is very dangerous. They are taking the wrong steps by ignoring the agitations that are going on. For the first time since the end of the civil war, we are seeing an organised agitation. The Igbo man cannot ordinarily abandon his business for something else, but now we are seeing Igbo men leaving their businesses in order to agitate.
That tells you that they are serious. Seeing them sacrificing their time, energy and money, should be enough to make the Federal Government interested in the matter. Threats by the army, are not acceptable. We expect the government to tell us why they are detaining Kanu. Intimidation did not work when we had our Kaima Declaration during the military era. When they threatened us, we became resilient.
Do you think the Igbo man has a cause to protest?
Yes, the Igbo have something to protest against just as the Ijaw man has something to protest against. Why are they denying the Igbo the right of seeing their son, who was arrested? They can’t be denied that right. I went to court to stop the dredging of the River Niger during the military era because there was no environmental assessment. The government under Abacha awarded the contract through the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF. I went to my lawyer, Femi Falana and we stopped the dredging through legal process.
If the government had not obeyed the judiciary on the matter, we would have resorted to other alternatives which would not have been in the interest of the government. I questioned the justification for wanting to have a sea port in Baro in Niger State, while our ports in Warri, Koko and Akasa were moribund.
Justification for seaport in Baro
They wanted to dredge the River Niger from Warri to Onitsha and to Lokoja before finally connecting it to Baro, which is close to Abuja. So the government should listen to the Igbo the way we were listened to during the military.
Do you think the Niger-Delta region is fairly represented in Buhari’s government?
Niger Deltans are not well represented in the government and we don’t know why they are doing that. Maybe it is being done because the region produced the immediate past president.
But those, who may be thinking in that direction, do not have conscience. If you look at the way Jonathan worked, it will not be difficult to know that the north benefited more from him. He did that because he believed in the unity of this country.
And the new administration has also started treating the Niger Delta people wrongly. For instance the Urhobo nation which is a sophisticated ethnic group has not been given any appointment. We have not seen any solid appointment that befits the Urhobo nation and we are asking them to correct this type of insult.
But Jonathan was also believed to have insulted the Urhobo nation in that regard?
Well, you must have seen my publications. I Joseph Evah, I told Jonathan, ‘You are embarrassing the Urhobo people.’ I don’t do Ijaw struggle, what I do is Niger Delta struggle. That has been our major setback. To see yourself as Ogoni man, Itsekiri man or Ijaw man and so when we are divided the external oppressors will now deal with us.
A number of persons from the Niger Delta region felt that the Ijaw took over everything and looked down on the rest of the Niger Delta people when Jonathan was in power?
A lot of our people were actually misbehaving and we cautioned them. They were behaving as if this was the time for Ijaw people as if it was Christmas Day and the Christmas Day is forever and we cautioned them.
We tried to caution them that Jonathan was representing all Niger Deltans.
In fact, not only the Niger Delta, when people tried to make Jonathan an Ijaw President or tried to do as if Jonathan ends with Ijaw we tried to warn them that it is very dangerous. For example, 100% of the Igbo committed themselves to Jonathan’s presidency. That was why when Ojukwu died, I organised farewell to Emeka Ojukwu. I mobilised over 5000 people to the National Theatre. I paid N1.5 million to mobilise over 5000 people to take over the National Theater for us to celebrate Ojukwu. The Eze Ndi Igbo were there. I took micro finance loan to organize it and I announced it.
Jonathan presidency
The reason was that during the war, we did not follow the Igbos. We supported the northerners against our Igbo brothers. Now, Jonathan is the President of Nigeria, Igbo had to forget about the way we maltreated them during the war, collectively decided to support Jonathan.
Now, the symbol of Igbo greatness, I call him the Ndi Igbo Black Moses, that is Ojukwu, I said there is need for us to celebrate Ojukwu. We will not allow Ojukwu’s burial without the Niger Delta people celebrating Ojukwu. That was why I organised that and thanked the Igbo for forgiving us because during the civil war, we joined outsiders to kill them. Today our son is the President, you Igbo decided to forgive us.
There are calls for the extension of the amnesty programme, which will end by December. Can you tell us the justification for such calls?
The training of the ex-agitators is still ongoing. Many of them still require to be trained. Even the trained ones are jobless. If the APC government is talking about N5,000 Social Security for the jobless, they should consider extending the amnesty programme because the idle mind is the devil’s workshop. It is not that we are encouraging people to be lazy. We are only concerned about how to make our youths productive and self sufficient.
Niger Delta minister under former president Goodluck Jonathan, Godsday Orubebe, is accused of failing to declare two properties he owned at the time he took office in June 2011.
Orubebe
He was also alleged to have received bribes amounting to 70 million naira ($350,000/ 328,000 euros), the Code of Conduct Tribunal in the capital,Abuja, heard.
Orubebe pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned until November 26.
The 56-year-old caused a stir during collation of ballots after the March 28 vote, which saw Jonathan and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dumped from office byMuhammadu Buhari.
Orubebe accused Nigeria‘s then election head Attahiru Jega of being partial and selective in his handling of petitions filed by the PDP against some of the results.
He shouted and attempted a sit-in in a 15-minute stand-off captured live on television at the venue where results were being announced. Orubebe later apologised for his outburst.
Buhari and his All Progressive Congress (APC) won the vote, securing the first-ever win by an opposition party inNigeria‘s independent history.
The president has since embarked on a drive against endemic corruption that has seen a number of government ministers and senior politicians questioned about or charged with graft offences.
They include the third most-senior political figure in the country, Senate leader Bukola Saraki.
The Niger Delta is home to Nigeria‘s oil industry. The minister is in charge of development projects in the region, where most people live in poverty despite the multi-billion dollar industry.
Meanwhile, former national security advisory Sambo Dasuki on Monday called on a high court judge to order secret police to leave his house inAbuja.
Dasuki, who is facing firearms and monely laundering charges, was last week allowed to retrieve his passport to go oversees for medical treatment.
But he failed to leave after members of the Department of State Services turned up at his house and allegedly prevented him from travelling. He claims his life is under threat.
The DSS denied the claim and said its agents’ presence was linked to Dasuki’s non-appearance before a committee probing a multi-billion-dollar arms deal during his time in office.
Hoodlums had on January 28, 2016, bombed Agip oil pipelines located in Orukari, Golubokiri and Kpongbokiri communities in Brass Local Government Area of the state.
