ARIYO SENDS SOS TO BUHARI OKOWA ETAL TO UNRAVEL THE SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE OF N300 MILLION ITSEKIRI DEVELOPMENT FUND

OGHENETEJIRI NYERHOVWO

Chief Robinson Ariyo has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to help unravel the sudden disappearance of three hundred million naira from the bank account of the Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC).

Chief Ariyo, a notable legal practitioner, a social crusader and prominent Itsekiri Chief said that the call has become imperative because he has lost confidence in the judiciary, the Police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Central Bank of Nigeria and all other government agencies saddled with the responsibility to fight the festering sore, corruption in the country as they, according to him, have all failed in the bid to unravel the disappearance of the money, adding, “my only hope now is the media hence we are here now, help bring our cry to President Buhari’s attention.”

Chief Ariyo disclosed that the Judiciary was allegedly compromised in giving a judgement on out of court settlement in a case at a High Court in Effurun with Suit No: EHC/20/2020 while at the same time there is a subsisting appeal on the same issue at Appeal Court, thus allegedly giving room for the organised crime of withdrawing N300million from the Keystone Bank account of the Itsekiri Regional Development Council(IRDC).

Chief Ariyo further disclosed that Chevron Nigeria Ltd , Category A signatory to the account has through an affidavit in court said they were not part of the said withdrawal from the bank, he wondered aloud, “how then could the bank honour the transfer or withdrawal of such huge amount of money without the consent of Chevron? The bank, to me had compromised. This led us to petition the Central Bank of Nigeria Bankers Committee but to my utmost surprise, we met brickwall.”

He said that not done, he petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office in Benin, that delayed to respond until he moved to their headquarters in Abuja before responding that they cannot intervene.

According to Chief Ariyo, “if the Judiciary, the CBN, the EFCC, the Police and other agencies have failed us, the Press should not fail us, the money involved is for the development of Itsekiri oil producing host communities of Chevron. The Press should help bring our case to the public domain. This is an organised fraud by some people in IRDC and some lawyers whom we have already petitioned. I came to the conclusion that the watchdog has become a conspirator with the thief.”

He added, “my plea to the President is to dissolve the EFCC outrightly and other critical structures of organs of government involved in the fight against corruption in the country with a view to win it. The President should critically assess the merit of this case where all government agencies involved in the fight against corruption have been seen to compromised with a view to unravel the sudden disappearance of the money.”

He also called on Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), other critical stakeholders to join hands to bring to book all those involved in the sudden disappearance of the N300million of the IRDC meant for the overall development of Itsekiri host communities of Chevron Nigeria Ltd.

It could be recalled that there has been a lingering legal tussle of who controls the soul of IRDC that has N2.1billion in its coffers from where this alleged organise fraudulent withdrawal of N300million is done while the case is on going.