Few months after the Federal Government paid N15 billion to the people of Odi over the 1999 massacre of their area, the Chairman of Odi Community Compensation Trust Fund Management Committee, Prof. KobinaImananagha, has expressed worry over constant threats to the lives of committee members.
Imananagha, who spoke with newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, explained that the situation had forced them to withdraw from the committee so as to avoid being assassinated.
Debunking claims that the N15 billion released by the Federal Government as compensation for Odi people was the first installment, Imananagha maintained that the amount paid by the government was the final payment, adding that no more money was expected as compensation.
Imananagha, who was among those that prosecuted the Odi case, explained that an agreement was signed with some lawyers for them (Odi counsels) to take 40 percent of the compensation after winning the court case.
“The remaining 60 percent will to Odi community and its people. It was difficult to get lawyers who agreed to the percentage. Some Lagos-based legal practitioners said they would take 60 or 50 per cent of the compensation. With the release of N15 billion by the Federal Government, the lawyers took N6 billion, with N9 billion left for Odi people for development of the community and to rebuild their houses destroyed by soldiers during the November 20, 1999 invasion,” he said.
Imananagha disclosed that the lawyers returned the sum of N525 million to build a memorial primary school and a health centre in Odi while some Odi people who played other roles as the court case went on,  got N600 million.
He, however, expressed shock that Odi youths rejected the six percent of the amount given to them, adding that the youths had insisted that the N9 billion meant for Odi people should be shared.
“It is better to share the money by members of each of the nine compounds in Odi. Bayelsa Deputy Governor deserves special commendation for his quick intervention to ensure peace, but the youths are ready for war,” Imananagha added.
He recalled that the sum of N3 billion was paid into the accounts of the community for members of the nine compounds that were affected by the massacre in Odi.
The leader of the compensation management committee, however, appealed to Odi youths to shun any attempt by unscrupulous person to use them for selfish gains.