By George Omagbemi
The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, has challenged Niger Delta activist Asari Dokubo to provide documentary evidence for his claim that the monarch receives N2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts.
The challenge was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Prince Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema, the Olu’s Sole Representative to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its joint-venture partners.
Dokubo made the allegation in a widely circulated video while defending Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, amid criticism of pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta.
He alleged that the Olu of Warri and Osahon Idahosa receive about N2.7 trillion for pipeline protection, questioning why other beneficiaries were not receiving similar scrutiny. Reports noted that Dokubo initially described the figure as monthly before referring to it as annual, without publicly presenting supporting documents.
Rejecting the allegation, Edema said the claim was “categorically” untrue and challenged Dokubo to produce the documents on which it was based.
He said questions concerning pipeline surveillance should be examined through contracts, procurement records, corporate documents, government approvals and performance reports, rather than unsupported claims.
Edema also warned that allegations involving sensitive oil-sector arrangements could deepen ethnic and regional tensions in the Niger Delta.
Public reports have previously placed NNPCL’s pipeline surveillance arrangement with Tantita Security Services at about N48 billion annually, although that figure relates to a different contract and does not establish the N2.7 trillion allegation involving the Olu.
As of October 7, no documentary evidence supporting Dokubo’s N2.7 trillion claim has been publicly established, while the Olu’s representative continues to demand proof
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