In 2014, the newly appointed Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, was arrested for alleged murder by perso
Ogbuku was accused of being involved in an assassination attempt on the life of Chief Timi Alaibe, where six persons were killed in Opokuma, Bsyelsa State.
Ogbuku spent many months in detention until he was granted bail by a Bayelsa State High Court. He was also arraigned in 2012 before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over alleged N19.2 billion fraud.
Others accused include former governor of Bayelsa State and Minister of State of Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, Francis Okuburo, Gbenga S. Balogun, Marlin Maritime Limited, Eat Catering Services Limited, Haloween Blue Construction and Logistics Limited.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had in a suit numbered HC/ABJ/CR/23/2012, claimed that Ogbuku, Sylva and the others fraudulently obtained N4 billion loans from Union Bank under the guise of using them to augment workers’ salaries.
The EFCC also alleged that the accused persons had in the same period converted properties and resources of the Bayelsa government amounting to N2 billion to personal use, and another N380 million worth of government property through a Fin Bank account with number 221433478108 belonging to one Habibu Maigida, a bureau de change operator on January 22, 2010.
It further said that Sylva, Ogbuku and his accomplices on February 5, 2010, converted N50 million of the state’s funds through a First Bank account with number 6152030001946 of Enson Benmer Ltd.
The EFCC said the offences contravene the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004.
Meanwhile, a Niger Delta group, Niger Delta Rescue Movement has petitioned the Department of State Services over the past records of the new NDDC MD.
“In lieu to the publications and notices that emanated as a result of the NDDC nomination list that was read on the floor of Senate on the 23rd of November, 2022,” the petition signed by Idengimowei Liverpool, secretary of the group read.
“It is no longer in secret that the president has nominated Lauretta Onochie and 15 others to the board of the NDDC with Ogbuku as managing director nominee. We thank the president for the nomination, but we are raising a serious red flag as to who becomes the managing director of the NDDC, the interventionist agency is saddled with the responsibility of the development of the Niger Delta with so much funds allotted to the agency.
“The position of the managing director should be given to a person who reflects the true spirit of fairness, equity, accountability and transparency at all times and not to a person with corrupt blood flowing through his veins. It is on this premise we want to draw your attention to the reasons why Ogbuku should not be screened as the managing director nominee of the NDDC.
“In 2012, the EFCC established a two-billion-naira case against Ogbuku and he was arraigned before a federal high court sitting in Abuja.
“In 2011, he was tied to the assassination attempt on the life of Chief Timi Alaibi where six persons were killed in Opokuma, which led to his detention in prison for months.
“In 2008, Ogbuku and three (3) others were arrested by the EFCC for the diversion of five hundred million meant for the state security outfit.
“In 2014 Sammy Ogbuku and three (3) others were arrested by the EFCC for using three (3) companies (Marlin Maritime Limited, Eat Catering Services Limited and Haloween-Blue Construction and Logistics Ltd) to Siphon Nineteen Billion, Two Million naira from the Bayelsa State treasury.
“A man with these corruption charges should not be allowed to be managing director. Please use your good office to save our dying Niger Delta region.”
However, the South-south Emerging Leaders Forum (SELF), a forum consisting of professionals in the region has warned against what they refer to as the ongoing campaign of calumny against Ogbuku.
The group made references to several court rulings which cleared Ogbuku of all the fictitious charges ranging from corruption and other criminal conduct in the country.
The forum therefore urged the public to disregard such reports trending on the social media noting it was a clear case of blackmail against the person of Ogbuka.
Meanwhile, the South-South Emerging Leaders Forum, SELF, has denied that Ogbuku attempted to assassinate Alaibe nor involved in a multi-million-naira fraud deal.
In a press statement signed by the National Coordinator of the Forum, Barr. Benjamin Kwalowei, the group emphasized that Ogbuku had long been cleared of all the malicious allegations by competent courts of law in the country.
According to the forum, “The reported cases against Dr. Samuel Ogbuku were carried out in bad light and it should be condemned outrightly. It is obvious that Sahara Reporters did not carry out due diligence but hurriedly reported falsehood against an innocent man, who is now the Managing Director of the NDDC.”
Kwalowei stated: “The High Court of Bayelsa State of Nigeria, in the said case of murder decided by Hon. Justice Kate Abiri (The then Chief Judge) on the 22nd December, 2014 had discharged and acquitted Dr. Samuel Ogbuku of any wrong-doing.
“Justice Kate Abiri stated in the judgement that ‘from the totality of evidence placed before this Court, and having carefully considered the ingredients of the offence, I find that the prosecution failed to prove all the three allegations conjunctively which has affected the quality of proof required, which is proof beyond reasonable doubt. The accused person Samul Ogbuku is accordingly discharged and acquitted from the one count charge of murder against him.”
Also reacting to the alleged case of N19.2 billion fraud in 2012, reported against Dr. Ogbuku, the group said that a Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja, presided over by Hon. Justice A. R Mohammed, on the 10th of June 2015, dismissed the said case.
Kwalowei quoted Justice Mohammed as saying, in the certified true copy of the judgement, that “the charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/167/13 filed before this Court amounted to an abuse of Court process and the same is accordingly dismissed.”
