The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has rubbished claims by SaharaReporters that the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested a lawyer, Moses Oddiri, to protect its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, from corruption allegations.
In a firm rebuttal issued on Friday, the anti-graft agency labelled the online publication’s story as “falsehood taken too far,” designed to tarnish the integrity of its boss.
The controversial report had alleged that Mr Olukoyede orchestrated Mr Oddiri’s arrest to conceal an alleged deal with the Managing Director of Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd, Ado Oseragbaje, to divert over N4 billion in statutory community development payments.
However, the EFCC presented a starkly different account, asserting that Mr Oddiri’s grievance stems from the commission’s refusal to allow the diversion of community funds into his personal Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).
“Oddiri’s story is a story of pursuit of self-interests against communal welfare. The Niger Delta Host Community Trust Fund, paid into the bank accounts of two Host Community Benefit Trusts (HCBTs), as prescribed by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), is the bone of contention. Oddiri wanted the funds paid into his NGO’s account in flagrant violation of the PIA,” the EFCC stated in a release signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
Corroborating the EFCC’s position, the very host communities meant to benefit from the funds have accused Mr Oddiri of peddling falsehoods. In a statement from their legal counsel, Chief E. J. Etaghene of Ethiope Barristers and Solicitors, the communities asserted that their money remains secure.
“The attention of our clients have been drawn to several publications made by Mr. Moses Oddiri falsely alleging that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has diverted funds meant for communities in OML 30. This is an outright fabrication of falsehood as there is nothing of such,” the communities’ statement read.
They explained, “The monies meant for the communities are intact in the Uherevie Communities Development Trust account. The account was not tampered with and was not frozen by the EFCC or any of its officials as wrongly alleged by Mr. Moses Oddiri.”
The communities suggested that Mr Oddiri’s actions were motivated by financial self-interest, stating, “It is obvious that the essence of Moses Oddiri’s petition is to use the EFCC to bring those at the helm of affairs of the community to a negotiation table in order for him and his cohorts to reap where they did not sow.”
The EFCC detailed that its chairman had initially intervened to ensure the delayed funds were paid by defaulting companies, in line with PIA and OPEC guidelines. Following the successful payment into the legitimate community trust accounts this year, Mr Oddiri allegedly launched a campaign against the commission.
The anti-graft agency revealed it has instructed its lawyers to initiate legal proceedings against SaharaReporters for the publication. It also noted that both the EFCC chairman and Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd have separate lawsuits against Mr Oddiri for what they term “serial blackmail.”
“While the EFCC will not be stampeded or blackmailed into compromising extant legal frameworks for the disbursement of the funds to the two host communities, the media is enjoined to always balance its reporting,” the commission pledged, vowing to remain focused on its national mandate.
