News

Group Threatens To Protest Non Reconstitution Of DESPODEC Board

Published

3 years ago

October 12, 2022

… Says Board Has Failed Woefully

… Wants FG Halt 13% Derivation To Delta Until…

Delta oil communities under the aegis of Delta Oil Producing Communities Advocacy Group, DOPAG, has threatened to protest the dismal performance of the Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) as well as the refusal of the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, to reconstitute the board whose tenure has long expired.

A statement signed by the group’s interim chairman, Aphensus Dibi, its secretary, Claude Oghenekvwe, and the Publicity Secretary, Collins Layefa, a soft copy of which was made available to INFO DAILY, said the group would, in the coming days and weeks, stage protests at Asaba, the state calital, and in Abuja, lamenting that the unabating situation has created untold hardship due to neglect of the oil communities.

According to the group, the protests would be to get the Federal Government to halt the payment of the 13% derivation allocation to the Delta State Government until it does the needful regarding dissolving the overstaying board of DESOPADEC or disbandment of the Commission altogether, so as to allow payment of the derivation revenue to the communities directly.

The group accused the government of not giving the communities the state’s 13% Derivation Fund allocation in accordance with the law establishing DESOPADEC, just as its claimed DESOPADEC is being used to settle political loyalists to the detrinent of the oil communities as the beneficiaries of the governor’s political largess were not accountable.

The statement reads in part, “Government should pity the oil producing Communities and reconstitute the Board of DESOPADEC, since the tenure of the current Board has expired. Elongating the tenure of unperforming Board is a disservice to the hapless communities.

“The lack of accountability and transparency of the current Board is largely attributed to political patronage and interest groups. No reasonable people and society can develop with an unaccounted leadership.

“Today, all the Commission does is to pay salaries and receive their emoluments. Even that whose is due to the Communities has been withheld. This is a sad story!

“In the past, the oil companies that were our problem; today, we are the architect of our enslavement.

“Since the coming of this Board, there has been steady increase of oil price in the international market largely due to the Russian versus Ukraine war, and Delta State has been reported as being among states receiving highest due allocations from the Federation Account. These are facts. So, there is no excuse why the oil communities are suffering in the face of oil pollution, environmental degradation and all maladies of diseases currently ravaging the communities.

“A visitor to an average oil producing community in the state today would be shocked to see the level of decay of infrastructure, lack of basic amenities and government neglect, they lamented. There are no roads, not even even potable water. Yet, water is everywhere! We are suffering as people the Holy Bible described as “princes walking on foot”!

“Government is supposed to serve the people but the reverse is now the case. If this continues without the reconstitution of the Board, we will be left no option but to protest publicly and call on the Federal Government to stop further release of the 13% Derivation allocation to Delta State until this anomaly and the fraud associated with DESOPADEC is transparently investigated to instill probity, accountability and inspire confidence of the suffering communities.”

It added: “There is a law that made it mandatory to the state to remit 50% of the 13% Derivation Fund to the DESOPADEC board. That’s is the amount thatn is being pillaged and looted by the DESOPADEC Board headed by Bashorun Askia Ogieh, the governor’s helsman”, the group alleged.

Justifying its position, the group observed that the prevailing injustice and inexplicable neglect of the oil communities was bound to undermine the safety of oil facilities or guarantee seamless oil exploitation in these communities despite efforts by the government to beef up security around the facilities particularly in the Niger Delta.

The group said: “There is no amount of security network to allow the flow of oil in these communities with current injustice and deprivation of the people unabated.

“We will protest in the days and weeks to come, both in Asaba, the state capital, and in Abuja until the Board of DESOPADEC is reconstituted.

“We must never be silent in the face of yesterday’s poor men looting monies that belong to us all. DESOPADEC has lost its usefulness under the present Delta State Government. A commission that should be transforming and developing host communities has been reduced to a mere ministry for political compensation.”

Related Topics:#Delta State DESPODEC Okowa

Up Next

NDE Flags-off Transformation Training Scheme For 50 Unemployed Youths In Bauchi

Don't Miss

Bishop Bans Catholic Priests From Priestly Duties Over Insubordination

Comments

News

Edo Sports Commission Boss Celebrates Okpehbolo On Birthday

Published

1 hour ago

August 29, 2025

Editor

The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has felicated with Governor Monday Okpebholo, on the occasion of his birthday.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Media Officer, Edoko Wilson Edoko, Enabulele Okpebholo as a visionary leader whose dedication to the growth and development of the state has continued to inspire confidence and admiration across all sectors, especially sports.

Enabulele, who highlighted the governor’s unwavering commitment to youth empowerment through sports development, noted that under his leadership, Edo State has witnessed significant strides in grassroots sporting initiatives and infrastructure.

“His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is not just a political leader but a beacon of hope for the younger generation.

“His passion for excellence and inclusive governance is evident in the way he has continued to support policies that uplift our youths and promote sporting excellence,” the statement read.

The Executive Chairman prayed for long life, good health, and continued wisdom for the governor as he steers the affairs of the state towards greater prosperity.

“On behalf of the entire Edo State Sports Commission, I extend our warmest birthday wishes to His Excellency at 55. May this new chapter of his life be filled with more accomplishments and divine grace,” he added.

News

Oba Of Benin Suspends Palace Chiefs

Published

11 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has suspended two of his chiefs for falling for dereliction of duties.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Frank Irabor and made available to journalists in Benin City.

He said their suspension was as a result of their long absence from the palace, resulting in their failure to carry out their palace responsibilities.

The suspended persons are: Chief John Igiehon, the Izuwako of Benin and chief Aimiukpomonyako Oghogho (Ebengho), the Oyenmwensoba of Benin.

“The under-mentioned two (2) chiefs have been suspended from the Palace of the Oba of Benin.

“This is as a result of their long absence from the Palace, resulting in their failure to carry out their Palace responsibilities.

“The public is advised to be wary of unscrupulous chiefs that are no longer functioning in the Palace. His Royal Majesty has approved their _ Suspension and directed the public be duly informed.

“The names of the chiefs are: – ; 1. CHIEF JOHN IGIEHON, THE IZUWAKO OF BENIN and, _ 2 CHIEF AIMIUKPOMONYAKO OGHOGHO (EBENGHO), THE OYENMWENSOBA OF BENIN”, the statement said.

News

Lawyers Fault EFCC Statement, Say It’s Misleading

Published

12 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

Some legal practitioners in Bauchi state have faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) official statement about their client on Wednesday, adding that it was erroneous, false and misleading.

It could be recalled that EFCC posted on its official Facebook handle that a Bauchi State High Court has cleared the commission to proceed with its investigation of a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Bauchi State, Hamza Koshe, and his company, Pentech Engineering Nigeria Ltd.

According to the EFCC statement, the commission said Justice Aliyu Baba, in a judgment delivered on July 30, 2025, dismissed an application by Koshe seeking to restrain the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission from probing him.

However, in a statement jointly signed and made available to newsmen in Bauchi on Thursday by Jibrin S. Jibrin Esq, M.M. Usman Esq, H.B. Pali Esq, Abbas Ibrahim Esq, I.G. Agwam Esq and Salome Audu Esq all counsel to Pentech Engineering Nigeria Ltd & Anor as well as Koshe insisted that the statement was misleading.

According to them, the EFCC owed the public the duty of relating only the truth of what the courts decided as regards the contract financing agreement in the issues their clients were parties.

“Our attention as the legal representatives of Pentech Engineering Nigeria Ltd & Alhaji Hamza Koshe in respect of suit No. BA/271/2024 has been drawn to the statement posted on the official page of the EFCC on Wednesday, where the Commission supposedly rendered an analysis of the judgement delivered by the High Court of Justice No. 4 Bauchi Presided by Justice Aliyu Usman on the 30th July 2025.

“Now against the background of the erroneous, false and misleading publication by the EFCC on the matter, we deem it necessary to set the records straight by stating what actually is the truth of the matter in terms of the enrolled judgment Order of the Court to which this press release is attached.

“It is proper to state as a fact that in an earlier judgement relating to the subject of this release, the verdict of the High Court of Justice No. 10 Bauchi presided by Justice M. M. Abubakar delivered on the 19th December, 2024 is to the effect that the Contract Financing Agreement the subject matter of the suit having been found to be valid and not contravening any law remains enforceable hence, Pentech Engineering Nigeria Ltd is accorded the applicable injunctive reliefs as regards the activities of the Commission.

“We state as a fact that the main question of law determined in Justice Aliyu Baba Usman’s judgment is to the effect that the Contract Financing Agreement the subject of the suit is valid.

“The EFCC failed to state in its statement in reference the fact that many parties and contractors concerned or involved in the Contract Financing Agreement in the issue have been invited by the Commission with virtually all of them responding, honoring its invitation on the matter and thereby discharging their legal obligation speak volumes of ‘the bidding of some’ which the publication seeks to achieve ab initio,” said the lawyers.

The counsel added that the mischief and deliberate misrepresentation in EFCC’s statement could be seen when not only did it make no mention of this fact but also created the impression that their clients went to Court to evade investigation on the matter.

They said that Koshe was a guest of the Commission having honored its invitation in September 2024 which he was released on administrative bail, the terms and conditions applicable to which he has been observing.

“It is also important to clarify as a fact that there is no truth at all in the Commission’s statement to the effect that our client sought a perpetual injunction of general nature against the Commission’s activities.

“The truth about the reliefs sought by our clients is as contained in the Court’s processes filed in the suit in reference.

“We challenge the Commission to provide evidence of where our client ever sought a perpetual injunction at large or of general nature against it or any other body duly established by law.

“We urge members of the public to disregard in its entirety EFCC’s statement on the subject and be guided in its stead by the facts as contained in the relevant court processes to which this release is attached,” he said.