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Ex-Agitators Disrupt NDDC’s Hearing On Corruption
Some ex-agitators in the Niger Delta yesterday disrupted a hearing organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to investigate allegations of corruption and racketeering in the commission.
The trouble started when the ex-agitators in their numbers were asked to present their invitation letters for subsequent accreditation to which they refused.
The ex-agitators expressed displeasure over claims that they were not invited for the hearing, alleging that the meeting was convened for the purpose of sharing contracts and money.
They made several threats and almost beat up top officials of the commission and other stakeholders if not for quick intervention by some of their members who were against the protest.
The ex-agitators had promised mayhem, if organisers of the event still went ahead with the meeting without recourse to their formal invitation.
Several efforts made to appease the ex-agitators by offering them the chance to participate in the hearing were in futility.
Speaking on the incident, one of the Coalition of Niger Delta Activist leaders, Dr Sam Ebiye, faulted the invitation of the contractor to the investigative hearing.
He alleged that some few people were selected to be part of the event while many contractors who had something to present to the panel were sidelined.
Coordinator for African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Mr David Ugolo, said that NDDC should not have positioned itself as judge over its own case.
Ugolo said that the commission should have invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the investigation to showcase prudence.
Our correspondent learnt the meeting was organised for contractors, civil society and the media.
Reacting to the protest, Mr Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, NDDC’s Head Corporate Affairs, who confirmed the issue, explained that a six-man committee was set up to investigate allegations of corruption and racketeering in the commission.
He said that invitations were sent to about 100 contractors and some other stakeholders who had done business with the commission.
NDDC Managing Director, “Mr Nsima Ekere, setup a six-man committee to investigate allegations of corruption and racketeering in the commission with intent to tackle them, if any exists.
“The committee was tasked with the responsibility to ask questions and get answers from those who have stories to tell and others who have evidence to show that these allegations were true or not.
“The committee started its work by reaching out to many contractors who had been heard to have purported or claimed that there was corruption in the system.
“Thereafter, letters were sent to every one of them and also expanded to others in the nine states of the region with hope to get to the root of the allegations.
“It’s rather unfortunate that people would disrupt a meeting without even having slight idea of what the meeting intended to achieve – which was for the good of everyone.
“Sadly, what happened today was typical and beginning to seem of what goes on in the Niger Delta; where even the best intentions are often misunderstood,” he said.
Amu-Nnadi said the ex-agitators were neither contractors; civil society nor the media to which the investigative hearing was designed.
He said the allegations of corruption were accusations that were made before the new NDDC governing board and management took office.
The spokesman said that NDDC board had met the ex-agitators recently and would continue to do so at different levels with focus to find resolution to some of their agitations.
“We must move away from disruptive engagement to constructive engagement because development would not take place in a state of strife and suspicion.
“The current NDDC board has the best of intentions to develop the region and achieve the mandate to which the commission was established,” he assured.
Amu-Nnadi said that NDDC board would meet and decide on the likely action to take on the investigative hearing.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.