The Movement for the Rights of Arogbo-Ibe (MRAI), a civil rights advocacy body committed to the protection of transparency, justice, and equitable development in the Niger Delta, writes to urge your esteemed Commission to act swiftly and decisively on the petition submitted by the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) concerning allegations of financial mismanagement and fraud against the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.
As a movement deeply rooted in the oil-rich but underdeveloped Arogbo-Ijaw axis of Ondo State, we are gravely concerned by the disturbing claims that public funds meant for the empowerment of youths under the NDDC’s Project HOPE have allegedly been misappropriated. The petition, widely circulated and documented in the public domain, questions the existence of 10,000 supposed beneficiaries of the programme and raises serious doubts about the transparency of project implementation under Dr. Ogbuku’s leadership.
We respectfully submit that the EFCC’s response to this matter is critical; not only to the outcome of the petition but also to the institutional integrity of the Commission itself. Delayed or perceived inaction on such a high-profile case could severely erode public trust in the EFCC’s capacity to tackle corruption without fear, favour, or political interference.
As a vital and potent instrumentality of accountability in Nigeria’s nascent democratic framework, EFCC’s leadership must ensure the Commission’s reputation remains uncompromised by silence in the face of the seriously daunting allegations affecting the entire Niger Delta region. It is against this backdrop that we therefore urge your Commission to:
1. Initiate a thorough investigation into the allegations raised by the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum.
2. Demand public disclosure from the NDDC regarding the list of beneficiaries, project expenditures, and the states affected.
3. Update the public periodically on the progress of your investigations to maintain public confidence.
We thank you for your anticipated cooperation and urge you to take bold steps in the interest of justice, equity, and national integrity.
Sincerely,
Hosea T Ebikontei
Coordinator
Movement for the Rights of Arogbo-Ibe (MRAI)
Bomi Stanley
Secretary
Movement for the Rights of Arogbo-Ibe (MRAI)
