The 2016 OMoU renegotiation by CNL is the biggest corporate fraud in Nigerian history- Group

Prominent members of the Executive Committee of the Association known as Concern Itsekiri Coastal Dwellers, CICD, have taken a swipe at the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited over the recent OMoU Renegotiation.

While briefing members of the communities that constitute the Concerned Itsekiri Coastal Dwellers (CICD) during the weekend in Ugborodo, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State of Nigeria, the duo of Comrade David Iwere (Mobilization Officer), and Choice Olueh (Ugborodo Bloc Chairman), of the Association respectively reechoed their agitation against Chevron Nigeria Limited whom they described as acting in the most noncompliant manner when the company proceeded against the provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Principal Offshore Memorandum of Understanding (OMoU) to renegotiate such a fundamental agreement as the OMoU with persons whom the company is legally prohibited from doing so.

According to Choice Olueh: “ A look at the said document purporting to be the renegotiation agreement will reveal that same was signed by three persons on behalf of the communities amongst whom are; Ebosa Godwin ( the current Board Chairman DESOPADEC) and Mode Akoma ( Vice Chairman Delta State Waterways Security). This is clearly against the provisions of S. 11 of the Principal OMoU and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). We recall that in 2011 Chevron had written under similar circumstances to the Itsekiri Regional Development Committee requesting that Hon. Mofe Pirah be removed as Chairman of the Committee on the ground that he was appointed a Commissioner in the Government. CNL then stated and I quote: “The appointment and ascension of one of your own, Hon. Mofe Priah to the exalted position of the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Delta State has thrown up the potential violation of our policy on dealing with government officials since he is still the Chairman of the IRDC (Signatory to the GMOU accounts) and the extant Commissioner for oil and Gas.” 

Choice Olueh proceeded to provide the particulars of the said letter as NMA-PUB-CNL-CWE-LEK-00091L dated September, 19, 2011 and wondered why the double standard by CNL. He accused those in management position in the company of inappropriate relationship with the government officials whom the company has allowed to play the compromising role of being government official is and at the same time community representative.

David Iwere on his part described the renegotiated document as a fraud same being facilitated by a group of persons majority of whom are government officials at the same time negotiating for the community. 

The Comrade said that matters are made worse by the fact that negotiation was done in flagrant disregard for the valid directives of a competent court of law. According to Rexlly Ede the current Chairman of the Body; “There is a pending matter before the High Court of Justice, Warri Judicial Division in SUIT NO: W/496/2013: REXLLY EDE & 11 OTHERS VS. CHEVRON NIGERIA LIMITED AND 12 OTHER in which the court has directed parties not to tamper with the rex of the case which includes the said Memorandum of Understanding now sought by Chevron Nigeria to be negotiated  and renewed. This is anarchy”

He described the action of Chevron Nigeria Limited in proceeding with the planned negotiation during the pendency of the matter and in the face of the Court’s directive as most unfortunate and a development that constitutes threat to peace in the area.

He argued that more than 80 percent of the negotiators who purported to represent the communities comprise of the outlawed Executives with whom Chevron has decided against the law to negotiate with.

He gave the names of some of them as; Godwin Ebosa, Chairman DESOPADEC Board, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, Commissioner DESOPADEC, Michael Diden, Member, Delta State House of Assembly, Mode Akoma, Vice Chairman Delta State Waterways Security, David Tonwe, D.G, Delta State Security. 

Both Choice Olueh and Comrade David Iwere called on Chevron Nigeria Limited to change its policy of using government powers to oppress the local communities in which they operate. 

Choice Olueh said that he and Comrade David Iwere have already decided to file an action to set aside the purported renegotiation and direct Chevron to pay all monies accruing to the Community to the court pending the determination of the case. 

Meanwhile, David Iwere has given CNL 7 days to retrace its steps as he vowed to petition the EFCC on the said inappropriate development for the agency to investigate and fish out the culprits.

“We shall not relent until we force CNL to comply with its own laws. It is a shame that things have degenerated to this stage”; he lamented

He also called on the Nigerian and the U.S Governments to wade into this situation with a few to forestalling breach to peace in the area.

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