The N48 billion pipeline surveillance contract awarded to High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, is still generating more and more controversies.
Civil Society Organizations in Edo State, led by One Love Foundation has written to the federal government under the Freedom of Information Act, demanding to be furnished with full details of the contracts and relevant documentation.
One Love Foundation, through its lawyer, Barrister Samuel Ihensekhien Jnr has written to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, and also to the Attorney General of the Federation to furnish them with the exact details of the entire contractual terms and documents entered into with Ekpemupolo (Mr Tompolo) on the N48 billion contract.
According to Mr ThankGod Ofoelue, the Public Relations Officer of the organisation, details of the official letter written by legal representatives of One Love Foundation, and addressed to AGF, Minister of Petroleum Resources, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NNPC goes thus below:
“RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST AS REGARD THE RECENT PIPELINE SURVEILLANCE CONTRACT AWARDED TO MR GOVERNMENT EKEMUPOLO:
We are legal practitioners and we write on behalf of One Love Foundation (a non profit organization)and an NGO concerned with public accountability and foremost human rights organization with headquarters office based in Benin-City Nigeria.
We apply pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act(Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) and under the relevant sections therein and accordingly request from your office, the following documents as regard NNPC and Ministry of Petroleum Resources standard procedure and official guide in the award of the recent pipeline surveillance contract to Mr Government Ekemupolo in this regard. Which viz a viz include:
A. Letter of contract, awarded to a certain Mr Government Ekemupolo.
B. His certificate of incorporation of this contract.
C. His 3 years current tax clearance certificate submitted to your office as a guideline for the award of this contract.
D. His DPR permit/license, where applicable.
E. His VAT certicate.
F. His PENCOM certificate and current ITF registration certificate submitted to your office as a guideline for the award of this contract.
G. His local content registration(NOGIC JQS or NCEC)
H. Any other relevant documents necessary and contained therein as regard earlier or recent contracts awarded to Mr Government Tompolo.
We accordingly request your office to within reasonable time and in line with SECTION 2,3, and 4 of Freedom of Information Act, to provide this documents.
Reacting to the above, the Global President of One Love Foundation. Chief Dr Sir Patrick Eholor noted that the above legal step is done in good faith and as a pre-action step in consonance with the provisions of the FOI Act, in order for his CSO and citizens of South-south Nigeria to be fully aware as to the nature and substratum of the pipeline surveillance contract that was recently awarded to Mr Government Tompolo, as he noted that on failure of all the federal governmental bodies involved to provide to his organisation all the requested official records and documents as it relates to this pipeline contract, then recourse will be made by his organisation to the Nigerian Court, to compel the production of this sought after public records and every further legal steps will thereafter be activated.
He also noted that this is important, that Mr Tompolo reached every stakeholder and CSO on this Niger Delta pipeline surveillance contract, in other to reduce friction and many law suits that will emerge from this shrouded pipeline contract in this regard.
Meanwhile, founder of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Asari Dokubo has vowed that Mr Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo will never step a foot into the 83km pipeline criss-crossing his Kalabari area in Rivers State.
Dokubo said he would not allow Tompolo’s armed boys escorted by soldiers to enter the Kalabari area.
Dokubo and Tompolo have been involved in militancy in the Niger Delta region, disrupting the flow of oil in the Niger Delta by attacking oil facilities, security personnel and other symbols of authority.
They and their ilks were among the most wanted men in Nigeria in the hey-days of Niger Delta militancy, when kidnapping of oil workers and expatriates, as well as killing of security officers was rampant in the region.
Through these criminal acts, they made billions and remained outlaws until they were granted Amnesty by the Federal Government.
Ironically, the same militants are now placed in charge of the security of pipelines.
Chief Dr Patrick Eholor in an earlier statement made to the press commended the Federal Government for understanding that they lack the strenght to manage the security and gave it to Tompolo, and while he congratulates Tompolo for getting the contract, Tompolo should know that contract of this nature is not exclusive to him only. He needs to carry everybody in Niger Delta along.
“Nobody has the monopoly of violence. We are not violent people, we are very educated people, we are very smart, we are very courageous people.
“We are ready to work with him, to also make sure that we protect the pipelines that run through Edo State and all through the Niger Delta region.
“I see this thing as a welfare system where you know that some ethnic groups have suffered a lot, you know they are unemployed, you want to release money so that each and every one of them can enjoy the national cake, and stop destruction.
The whole people of Niger Delta need to benefit from Mr Government Tompolo’s FG awarded surveillance contract, so that everyone from the region and areas in Niger Delta can also protect the oil wells and the oil pipelines in their places. It is going to create jobs for our teeming youths whom the government have neglected, unemployed, and who have been suffering to earn a living and care for their aged parents, and care for their families.
“But I do not support violence, I do not support destruction, but I won’t hesitate to tell the government that we cannot be discriminated against, one section will not be encouraged and the others neglected.
As at press time, there have been no official reaction from any of the governmental agencies.