The Ogoni Liberation Initiative has raised serious allegations of fraud and mismanagement, accusing the previous Rivers State Government and key individuals of diverting $300 million in compensation funds allegedly paid by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11.
In a press briefing at Bori, in Khana local government area, President and CEO of the group, Dr. Douglas Fabeke, claimed the money meant for the development and environmental restoration of Ogoni land was misappropriated without the knowledge or consent of the Ogoni people.
“The Ogoni people have once again been subjected to grave injustice, fraud, and mismanagement. The compensation funds were diverted by the former state administration in collaboration with persons falsely claiming to represent Ogoni interests.
The group referenced its involvement in securing a Supreme Court victory for the Federal Government against Shell, which led to the handover of OML 11 to NNPCL. Despite holding consultations and mediation efforts, including high-profile meetings in Lagos, Abuja, and a major rally in Bori, the promises made to the Ogoni people have reportedly gone unfulfilled.
Dr. Fabeke called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order a full investigation into the case and to mandate NNPCL’s new GMD, Bayo Ojulari, to review all agreements and transitions involving OML 11 and the Ogoni communities.
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He further accused the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the agency responsible for the $1 billion environmental cleanup of Ogoni, of widespread mismanagement, corruption, and substandard execution of projects.
Among the specific allegations leveled were: “Misappropriate of one hundred and twenty-three point four (123.4) billion naira released by the Federal government of Nigeria for the Ogoni electricity project. “Embezzlement of 6.4 billion naira meant for the provision of portable water, reverting to sinking of boreholes in few villages.
“Embezzlement of 22.8 billion naira released by the Federal Government for the second phase of the Ogoni water project. “Embezzlement of 107 billion naira released by the Federal Government for the central remediation of newly identified hydrocarbon impacted sites in Ogoni land.
“Non implementation of the UNEP RECOMMENDATION for remediation. Non implementation of the livelihood sustenance agenda as recommended by UNEP, this has been limited training to mere tailors, hair dressers and act, without sustainable impact on the communities.
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“The leadership and management of the Agency award contracts to their own companies in billions of naira.”
The group also claimed to have uncovered suspicious financial transactions totaling $366 million and listed instances of fictitious cleanup operations in non-existent Ogoni locations.
Despite repeated appeals, the group alleges that Environment Minister Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal has ignored their concerns. A recent UNEP audit reportedly gave HYPREP a poor performance rating, citing corruption and inefficiency.
Demands from the Ogoni Liberation Initiative include: Full public disclosure of the $300 million compensation deal, including names of communities involved and evidence of settlement.
An independent investigation into the alleged diversion of the funds. A forensic audit of HYPREP’s finances and restructuring of the agency, including renaming it to “Ogoni Restoration Authority” as recommended by the UNEP report.
Dissolution of HYPREP’s governing council and board of trustees. The formation of a technical committee to probe HYPREP’s procurement and financial activities from 2016 to date. The exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other eight Ogoni activists executed in 1995.
Dr. Fabeke concluded by reaffirming support for President Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda, stating that resolving these issues could pave the way for peaceful oil resumption and economic development in Ogoni land.
“The Ogoni people have suffered enough. We call on the Federal Government, anti-corruption agencies, and the international community to act now before our people go into extinction,” he concluded.
