The woes of the Anglo- Dutch oil giant, Shell P e t r o l e u m Development Company, in the Niger Delta region may be worsened by the eviction notice served it by Erhobaro- Orogun community in Ughelli-North council, Delta State. The firm was given the marching order following what the community termed sheer neglect and the alleged attempts by the oil firm to cause inter communal war with their neighbouring village of Kokori in Ethiope – East Area. The community made their stance known in a peaceful demonstration on Tuesday at Erhobaro-Orogun.
The leader of the protesters, Madam Blackky Ejomafuvwe, said “this will be the last warning we will give to Shell, almost twenty years now they have been sucking our oil without anything for us to show that we have oil. “We have 14 oil wells in this community and Shell never thought it wise to have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with us. They situated a flow station in our neighbouring village from where they suck our oil, they only recognized Niger Delta STANDARD gathered that Sylva on Thursday approved the setting up of the judicial commission to look into the spending of the N150 million which was provided in the 2006 budget for the procurement of law books for the state judiciary library.
The resolution was sequel to a motion by Alfred Egba (representing Yenagoa 1), asking the House to request the governor to set up a panel of inquiry into the alleged expenditure of the N150 million law books contract for which supply was not made. The House had on two occasions, summoned Dickson, who now represents Sagbama/Ekeremor federal constituency in the House of Representatives, to appear before them to explain his role in the disappearance of the controversial N150m. But the federal lawmaker approached a competent court of law and secured an injunction restraining the House from inviting him to appear before them and that evidence of payment for the controversial sum should be made available to him. Sylva had also berated Dickson for pointing accusing fingers in his direction, alleging that he (the governor) was influencing the House to bring him to book.
Sylva, who denied masterminding Dickson’s travail, urged him to respect due process and make himself available to clear the allegations hanging on his neck. Egba had made three prayers: compelling the former commissioner to appear through the issuance of a Warrant of Arrest, pursuant to Section 129 (1d) of the 1999 Constitution, tendering an unreserved apology for the arrogance and contempt he had shown to the House and the setting up of the commission of judicial inquiry. But the Leader of the House, Nadu Karibo (Ogbia 1) Jonathan Obuebite (Nembe 1), Amalanyou Yousuo (Brass 2), Kurokeigha Dorgu (Southern Ijaw 1), James Ayobegha (Nembe 2), Ruby Benjamin (Brass 1), in their contributions, spoke against flouting the subsisting court order restraining them from summoning him for questioning.
At the session presided over by the speaker, Mr. Werinipre Seibarugu, the lawmakers, who hardly sat, also resolved to request probing of another N47million contract for the procurement of 10 units of Port cabin and a 60KVA generating set allegedly awarded to a non-existing company, Trenur Nigeria Limited through the office of the former commissioner. However, Ayobegha (Nembe 2), after much opposition to the first two prayers of Egba, moved that the third prayer be adopted by the House and he was duly seconded by Mr. Delight Igali (Southern Ijaw 4).
The commission which has Justice Boloukuromo Ugo, would also investigate related contracts or projects for the Ministry of Justice under Dickson. Aprivate legal practitioner and former commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Fedude Zimughan, a representative of the police, Mr. Anselm Nwokike, counsel to the commission are members of the commission while Mr. Ebizimo Diriyai would serve as secretary.
Specifically, the commission would investigate how the N150 million for the procurement of law books for the Ministry of Justice library was released and if the whole or part of the amount released for the project was expended. The commission, which may be inaugurated this week, would also ascertain whether the amount released was judiciously spent for the purpose it was appropriated or released and whether due process was followed in the award of the contract and its payment. It would also identify the companies, firms or contractors awarded the contracts and the person or persons who were the owners or directors of the companies and make appropriate recommendations it deemed necessary in accordance with its findings. The commission, which has four weeks to submit its report from the day of its first sitting, is expected to take evidence from stakeholders either in public or private.