From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Traditional Rulers and key stakeholders from the nine States of the Niger Delta region have again faulted the claims of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over the continued detention of the Executive Director of Operations and Technical of the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, TSSNL, Captain Warredi Inisouh.
Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the spokesperson of the EFCC had claimed that Inisouh was arrested over an alleged case of Money Laundering involving the criminal dissipation of funds in an account held by him, which is the subject of its longstanding investigation.
However traditional rulers, elders, women and youths under the aegis of the Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum, in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, faulted the claims of the EFCC, urging President Buhari to call the leadership of the anti-graft commission to order and direct it to operate within the ambit of the law.
The members of the Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum, in the letter dated 26th of January, 2023 and signed by Dr. Akpan O. Essien, Chief Williams Erepatei, Mr Adeleke S.Olubunmi, Mr James Ipalibo and Dr. Mrs. Ejiro P. Obohvie, argued that the people of the Niger Delta region are disappointed by what they called lies against Inisuouh.
According to the group, “Uwajeren’s press release is a gambit, to change the narrative and to make the EFCC look like they are acting within the legality of the law.
They insisted that Capt Inisouh is not under investigation but in court with the EFCC, adding that it behoves on the EFCC to conclude its investigations before making arrest and prosecuting its case against suspects.
The forum, while pointing out several contradictions in the EFCC statement, called on the Presidency to probe the employment of the EFCC counsel in NIMASA and investigate his calls, and sms.
“We thank the Presidency, the Management of NNPCL, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Security Services (DSS) for their continued and unconditional support to see that we eradicate this scourge and criminal activities of pipeline vandalisation and oil theft.”
“We also thank Nigerians, the print and electronic media for their unreserved support, Nigeria belongs to us all, we can get this job done and reposition our country. There should be no sacred cows in this fight against those who plunder and pillage our national assets and resources and destroy the environment. Going forward we won’t be deterred by threats and intimidation, we will mention names and syndicates, we are not naive as we acknowledge the perils involved, we are up to the task, we are more than able and motivated to carry out this great national assignment, our environment, lives and ways of living are at stake.”