A traditional ruler who allegedly linked a former governor with the activities of dreaded militant, Ateke Tom, has denied ever making such a statement.
Captain Nemi Iyalla Oputibeya X, the traditional ruler of Koniju in Okrika, Rivers State, on Tuesday dissociated himself from an affidavit in which he had reportedly named former governor, Dr. Peter Odili, a River State former minister, Dr. Abiye Sekibo and others as sponsors of Tom�s Niger Delta Vigilante Movement.
Speaking through his solicitors, Adedipe &Adedipe and co, he said he never swore to any affidavit purportedly filed by the Rivers State Government, at the State High Court in suit no. PHC/75/2008.
He described the story as spurious, unfounded and a calculated attempt to malign his name and his reputation as a responsible Nigerian citizen and traditional ruler of Koniju town.
He said, �At no time did I make any such statement credited to me.�
In a document titled, �Disclaimer and Demand for Retraction,� the solicitors indicated, �Our client categorically states that the purported affidavit wherein the statement credited to him was said to be therein contained, had not been served on him nor shown to him.�
Earlier on Monday, Odili has described as untrue and malicious, the report that he and other persons sponsored Tom�s group.
Odili made this denial in a statement issued by his Media Advisor, Mr. Emma Okah.
�I want to state emphatically that since I was born, I have never given anybody a kobo to induce or facilitate violence and could not have sponsored Tom or any other person to promote violence anywhere.�
He said such a report was mere organised fabrication by some persons to score cheap political points.
Similarly, the former Chairman of the State Peace and Reconciliation Committee, Mr. Alaye Eremie, denied having any relationship with Tom.
In a statement made available to The Punch on Wednesday, Eremie said he never had any relationship with the NDVM�s leader outside the limit of his official position as the PRC chairman.
The politician said that he was appointed by Odili to help restore peace in the wake of youth restiveness, particularly in his home town.
According to him, his role as a peacemaker brought him in contact with several militants including Tom.