Host Communities, Stakeholders demand arrest and investigation of Maxwell Oko, Eraskorp, others

BY OROBOSA OMO-OJO, JP

Unarguably, one major achievement that has been recorded by the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari is the steady retirement of ‘portfolio businessmen’ who hitherto, hid under the canopy of tribalism and criminal activism to subvert the effort of both Federal and State governments.

Like the proverbial stubborn goat, these elements have continued without restraint, like an imprudent to despise good counsel. The only difference this time is that, their operations now hide under the cover of a cloned corporation. However, the new coating does not deceive Nigerians because of their antecedence. After all, a leopard cannot change its spots; neither can tiger change its stripes. These guys cannot change their essential nature.

A vandal will always prefer easy money that drips from the network of pipes in the Niger-Delta. They are ever ready go back to the creeks if his livelihoods are threatened by the decent orderly regulations established by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or they are forced to adhere to standards in service delivery. Perhaps, this is the case with Morris Idiovwa, Maxwell Oko, Daniel Ekpebide and others who are presently under criminal investigation by all the security agencies in Nigeria – courtesy of a petition dated December 17, 2018.

In the petition titled “Petition on Criminal Activities in the Niger Delta Region by self-styled Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, and signed by a Greenhouse company, that goes by the name, ‘Arthur Ferdinand Limited’, which was addressed to the President and Commander in Chief of Nigeria Armed Forces, the trio of Morris Idiovwa, Maxwell Oko, Daniel Ekpebide are being accused of planning to adversely impact the internal security of Nigeria through the ‘vandalization’ (including bombing) of pipelines facilities in the Niger Delta region.

Arthur Ferdinand listed amongst other allegation that they have “it on good authority that the group is responsible for… the recent pipeline explosion at Inene-Ugheli, Delta State, massive explosion of an NPDC Crude Oil Trunk Line in Afiesere and Igwhrenene, Ugheli North, Delta State on 23.07.15, attack on a major delivery trunk line within Ogor-Oteri general area in Ugheli North on 26.08.16…” The petitioners also forwarded “the confessional audio/video of one Dennis Oneya confessing that the attacks were carried out on the instruction of the group.”

On the strength of the petition, Arthur Ferdinand would want President Buhari to order the DSS to investigate the “threat posed by the group”. If there was any doubt on those that were behind or those funding the obnoxious bombing of the pipelines, the petitioners established a relationship between the nefarious group and Eraskorp Nigeria Limited, a company they described as “a vandal’s vehicle”. Further investigation showed that these kingpins have resulted to the use of “various corporate vehicles to carry out the group’s nefarious activities.” In the petition, Eraskorp is accused of defaulting in the execution of OML30 surveillance contract, a negligence that lead to the loss of 11,000,000 barrels of crude oil on the Trans-Forcados Pipeline (TFP). The market price of the oil theft was put at USD800,000.00 and this forced NNPC to terminate Eraskorp’s surveillance contract.

Sensing that their “vandal vehicle company” has lost out, the violent group may have decided not to vacate the contract without causing more damage to the national assets. Eraskorp accusers revealed in their petition that “Mr. Maxwell Oko as a prominent member of the group has orchestrated a reign of anarchy by mobilizing the group to disrupt the pipeline surveillance and protection work of TFP.”

Their main purpose, the group explained is “…solely aimed at ensuring that the prominent members of the group and their associates are awarded all pipeline protection and surveillance contracts in the region.” Arthur Ferdinand therefore warned that if the activities of Maxwell Oko and his group are left unchecked, they might lead to substantial security issues that would negatively impact on the internal security of the Niger Delta region.

In their prayers, the petitioners implored Mr. President to direct the DSS to “use his good office to “ensure the investigation, arrest and prosecution of the prominent members of the group, who have vowed to hold Nigeria to ransom by vandalizing pipelines, unless all pipeline protection and surveillance contracts in the region are awarded to the prominent members or corporate entities that they sponsor.”

Sounding hysterical, Maxwell Oko’s attackers called on the DSS, Police and other security agencies to urgently investigate the activities of Eraskorp Nigeria Limited, together with its directors and shareholders, to forestall the group or the prominent members thereof from committing further destruction of the Federal Government Assets.

The arrest of these persons and their agents, the petitioners claimed will stop them from further harassment and defaming of “entities such as NNPC, NPDC, Ocean Marine Solutions (OMS), the company tasked with the maintenance and protection of pipelines and oil installations in the Niger Delta region.” Finally, they are calling on the DSS, Police and others through President to stop Eraskorp and associates from making spurious and unsubstantiated allegations against entities such as NNPC, NPDC and OMS, which are tasked with the management of the country’s crude oil assets.

Trouble seems to be coming from all fronts for Eraskorp, Maxwell Oko and his group. In another petition, addressed to the Colonel Hassan Grema, the Sector Commander, of Nigeria Army, 3 Battalion, Effurun, Delta State, the ‘Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas is also asking for the arrest, and investigation of Morris Idiovwa, who they claimed is the Chairman of OML 30 Community Development Board (CBD). The Host Communities are in tandem with their accusation of Morris Idiovwa of vandalizing NPDC oil and gas facilities in Delta State. The twenty-three community leaders drew the attention of the Nigeria Army to the confessional statement of persons that were arrested by the JTF 222 Battalion at the NPDC facilities in OML 30 wherein Idiovwa was fingered as the and heavily indicted. The situation HOSTCOM reported prompted the JTF 222 Battalion, Agbarha-Otor to declare Morris Idiovwa wanted. They are therefore in unison that troubled Eraskorp boss needs to be “ properly investigated to put an end to the spate of destruction of oil and gas facilities in OML 26, 30 and 34.

Those that signed the petition for their communities are: Comrade Efe Okovwurie for Urhobo Ethnic Nationality, Comrade Morrister Idibra for Isoko Ethnic Nationality, Pastor Richard Erhurhore, Chief Edegware David from Igbide community, and Mr. Wilso Kokarhaye. Others are Chief V. Ohare for Ewereni clan, Sheldrake Etarhieyo for Opherin, Ikpere Clement for Owevwe, Augustine Akpubi for Gana, Onovwata Samson for Etavwobakai and Peter Oghre who signed for Erhobaro. The petition was also co-signed by Akpome Gabriel for Otor-Owhe, Ikede Sunday, and Columbus Oguname for Uzere community.

In an unbelievable come back, Morris Idiovwa recently led his company, Eraskorp in an onslaught against NNPC, accusing the company of shaddy deals in the award of surveillance and security contract for the protection of the Trans-Forcados pipelines to Ocean Marine Solutions – the company that has succeeded in put oil thieves out of business in the Escravos-Warri and Bonny-Port Harcourt Crude Oil Pipelines. Perhaps, the failure of the Directorate of State Security Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to prosecute the accused has given impetus to the current his standoff with NNPC and OMS, who by every record was drafted by NNPC to save the country enormous resources.

Even if it is for academic exercise, it will be useful for the security agencies to find out from Eraskorp how and why the Trans-Forcados Pipelines were massively bombed while they were under their care and protection. Considering the weight of the petition and the enormous resources that have been lost by the Federal Government in the process, it is ridiculous that the same company that failed in their contractual agreement will result to blackmail and intimidation of NNPC and the preferred company that has been invited to save the ugly situation.

In a season and period when global leading and emerging economies are discouraging portfolio businessmen, Nigeria cannot afford to leave the National Assets in the hands of speculators and ethnic militias that are hiding under the guise of Niger Delta militants.