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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Traditional Rulers and chiefs from the nine states of the Niger Delta region have sent a strongly worded petition to President Muhammadu Buhari over the alleged arrest of Tantita’s director of Technical Operations, Capt. Warredi Inisouh, by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The traditional rulers and chiefs, under the aegis of the Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum, described Captain Inisouh’s arrest as “illegal and part of the EFCC efforts to frustrate the ongoing fight against crude oil theft in the region.”
Also, the Coalition of Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum (CNDSF), in the petition signed by Engr. Dr. Akpan O. Essien, Chief Williams Erepatei, Barrister Adeleke S. Olubunmi, Engr. James Ipalibo and Dr. Mrs. Ejiro P. Obohvie, in the petition titled: ‘Petition Against The Leadership Of The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), For Allegedly Aiding Unpatriotic Nefarious Gangs And Economic Saboteurs In Their Illicit Crude Oil Theft, Trade, And Pipeline, Vandalisation Acts Of Treason Across The Niger Delta Region, And We Call For The Urgent Release Of Capt. Warredi Inisouh From The Custody Of The EFCC, And For An Inter-Agency Probe To Be Instituted Against The Leadership Of The EFCC For Their Role In Aiding Unpatriotic Nefarious Gangs And Economic Saboteurs Engaged In Illicit Crude Oil Theft, Trade, And Pipeline Vandalisation,’ kicked against the alleged complicity of the EFCC in the fight against oil thieves in the region.
According to the group, “the arrest and activities of the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is aiding unpatriotic nefarious gangs and economic saboteurs in their illicit crude oil theft, trade, and pipeline vandalisation acts of treason across the Niger Delta region.
“We call for the urgent release of Capt. Warredi Inisouh from the custody of the EFCC, and for an inter-agency probe to be instituted against the leadership of the EFCC for their role in aiding unpatriotic nefarious gangs and economic saboteurs – engaged in illicit crude oil theft, trade, and pipeline vandalisation.”
“When you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you When you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice – you may know that your society is doomed,” (Ayn Rand).
“Sir, your reputation, and that of our beloved country is at stake before a global audience.”
“Tantita’s director of Technical Operations, Captain Warredi Inisouh is being held by the EFCC Lagos branch on trumped up charges. Capt. Inisouh a trained flight pilot and a marine captain and an expert is described by those who know him as a workaholic with an uncommon patriotic zeal who has the knack for undertaking perilous national assignments where others would shy away, he previously worked in the Maritime and Intelligence department at the Nigerian Maritime Security Agency (NIMASA).”
“Capt. Inisouh while working with the Maritime and Intelligence department at NIMASA coordinated with Global West on behalf of NIMASA’s maritime intelligence department, and the partnership recorded tremendous success.”
“Its contractual mandate to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the current NIMASA DG, Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh said, ‘as a result of their effort, NIMASA makes extra monies, it was from the extra funds that they got paid.’
“Today, we have it on record that they had about 25 intervention vessels, some, because of their issue with EFCC, are no longer serviceable but we still have some serviceable vessels that are in the custody of the EFCC. The NIMASA DG, Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, revealed that before Global West intervened, NIMASA was making about $10 million – $12 million per annum but the intervention raised the figure to about $19.5 million per month, saying that; it was from this increase that Global West got paid for its services.
“On the local currency revenue, it was gathered that before the engagement of Global West, NIMASA was making about N30 billion per annum, but the intervention raised the figure to about N80 billion. Capt. Warredi Inisouh dilemma with the EFCC is believed not to be unconnected with his current job as the Executive Director Operations and Technical in Tantita Security Limited, a company contracted by the Federal Government to carry out surveillance and protection of the country’s hydrocarbon infrastructures and assets.”
“Capt. Inisouh is seen as the intelligence and technical arrowhead that has delivered devastating and paralysing incisions into the criminal and powerful networks of oil thieves in the Niger Delta, ripping the Federal Government of Nigeria of much needed revenue. Is it a coincidence that Capt. Inisouh was suddenly and unwarrantedly invited by the EFCC at the material time that he was almost wrapping up investigations on a vessel MV Marina Express with suspected stolen crude oil in Port Harcourt, Rivers State?
“It is the same vessel that the Nigerian Navy has been embroiled in, where it assaulted Tantita Security Surveillance operatives and forced them to delete audio and video evidence two weeks prior. Now it seems these same nefarious gangs and economic saboteurs with deep pockets and networks in high places have decided to activate their contacts in the EFCC Lagos State because Abuja obviously is a no go area as it is the seat of the Federal Government in charge of the operations against the oil thieves.”
“How could an EFCC operative in Lagos undeservedly invite and interrogate an operative in an operation being superintendent by the president of the nation in a joint task including the NNPCL, the minister of Justice and Attorney General, Chief of Defence Staff, the DSS to disclose his sources of information.
“That an unpatriotic EFCC operative known as one Barrister Rotimi Oyedepo of the EFCC Investigation and Legal Department in Lagos is behind these treasonous acts. Is this Barr Rotimi Oyedepo of the EFCC Lagos office holds sway within the ranks of those mandated and expected to be exemplary role models in the affairs of state, or the state must be ready to mete out exemplary punishments to serve as deterrence in situations where they become a cog in the wheel of progress or saboteurs.”
“The illegal oil theft cartel cannot be allowed to go for Nigeria’s jugular, the economic reforms being carried out across board by the Federal Government is in danger of collapsing if the fight against oil thieves fails, because the much needed revenue will come from the oil and gas sector, and as evidenced by the success of High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, and his Tantita Security Surveillance outfit in just four months to turn around the ugly narrative of the perennial vandalisation of pipeline infrastructure and oil theft and the consequent increase of national revenue.
“The targeted reforms and repositioning of the oil and gas sector for profit and sustainability by the Mele Kyari led NNPCL would surely become the first victim of these dastardly economic saboteurs, where if NNPCL fails, Nigeria would fall flat on its face as the nation is already in great economic turmoil and just when it seems the prospect are beginning to look brighter through the combined work of the president, the Mele Kyari led NNPCL, Tantita Security Surveillance and the joint military task, those bent on keeping 200 million Nigerians down and perilously pushing the nation towards anarchy are at it again.
“The incoming government after the presidential elections will severely lack the needed resources to function if this great task is sabotaged from within by state actors. President Muhammadu Buhari should tame the EFCC to function within the confines of the law and legality, and only where it is mandated to carry out its functions, Barr. Rotimi Oyedepo of the Investigation and Legal Department of the EFCC Lagos cannot be used by criminal gangs and economic saboteurs to scuttle the great work being done to reposition the nation, Barr. Rotimi Oyedepo cannot be a law unto himself and would not be allowed to recklessly torpedo this great march towards eradicating illegal crude bunkering and nation building.”