Ogoni communities threaten to drag HYPREP to EFCC over alleged misappropriation of $366m fund

Communities under the aegis of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI), have threatened to drag the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) before the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged misappropriation of $366 million provided for the clean-up of Ogoniland.

The host communities in a meeting with Ogoni stakeholders tagged: “Final Declaration”, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital called for a review of the funds, provided to ensure the remediation of oil impacted sites in the area.

President of OLI, Douglas Fabeke, who read an eight-page document expressed that there was nothing tangible to justify the alleged $366 million so far expended on the clean-up exercise.

The document read in part, “Dissatisfaction with the high level of misappropriation of Ogoni clean-up fund by HYPREP: We, the entire Ogoni people, express our high level of dissatisfaction with the way and manner the funds meant for the clean-up of the Ogoni environment have been misappropriated by HYPREP.

“Available records show that so far, a total sum of $366 million has been released to HYPREP for the clean-up of the Ogoni environment. The said sum was released to HYPREP through the Ogoni Trust Fund.

“However, despite the release of these funds, there is nothing to show and HYPREP has refused to give the Ogoni people upon whose behalf the funds were released, a proper account of how the money has been utilized after several years.

“We, therefore, call on HYPREP to within 14 days, render a proper account to the Ogoni people. Otherwise, we shall invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-graft agencies to investigate HYPREP.”

Continuing, the people called for the “Decommissioning of Shell Petroleum and Development Company Facilities in Ogoni Land: SPDC oil facilities and assets have been left abandoned and unattended since the year 1993 when SPDC ceased oil operation in Ogoni and their continued presence has continued to cause a great health hazard, environmental and safety risk to the farmers, fishermen and the entire people of Ogoni.

“It is based on the above that the UNEP Report particularly on page 16, specifically recommended that the SPDC should conduct a comprehensive review of its assets in Ogoni land and develop an Asset Integrity Management plan for Ogoni land and decommissioning plan of these assets which plan should be communicated to the Ogoni people.

“However, SPDC has refused and neglected to decommission these assets neither has it developed any asset integrity management plan on these assets.

“We, therefore, call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to beacon on SPDC to with immediate effect, decommission all her assets in Ogoni land has lost the license to operate OML 11.”