Laraba MUREY
A group, Niger Delta Liberators and Ex-Agitators Forum, NDLEF, have called for the immediate sack and probe of the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, over alleged misappropriation of N50 billion.
The group, in a press briefing, on Friday in Abuja, alleged that Dr. Otuaro is abusing his office by awarding contracts to moribund companies owned by his protégés, money laundering, and misappropriation of public funds.
According to the group, Dr. Otuaro has been using a company, Maro-Kana Construction Co. Limited, owned by his friend and former co-worker, Engr. Michael Ifeanyi Anoka, to launder public funds.
The group alleged that between July 10, 2024, and August 2, 2024, Dr. Otuaro’s office paid Maro-Kana Construction Co. Limited a total of N512,782,475 for consultancy services and stakeholders’ management meetings.
NDLEF claimed that Dr. Otuaro has been using the laundered funds to instigate violence in Niger Delta communities and silence opposition to his actions.
Converner of the group, Odey Otunu, said, “We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cause a thorough investigation into the complaints lodged against Dr. Otuaro and his protégés. We also call for his immediate suspension to prevent destruction of evidence or tampering with investigation.”
NDLEF vowed to forward the allegations to the Presidency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, and Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, and to lead peaceful protests to relevant offices.
He said, “We shall be leading peaceful protests to relevant offices after duly notifying all requisite security agencies.
In light of the foregoing, we respectfully implore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cause a thorough investigation into the complaints lodged against Dr. Otuaro.
“Dennis and his protégés.
We trust the Presidency to do the right thing and we believe, strongly, that the immediate suspension of Dr. Dennis would be appropriate in order to prevent destruction of evidence or tampering with investigation.
While anticipating an expeditious consideration of our clients’ complaint in tandem with your avowed commitment to the discharge of your constitutional and statutory duties to restore hope to the hopeless, please accept the assurance of our professional regards.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consolidate on his renewed thrust for fiscal probity and governance accountability by compelling the all relevant anti-graft agencies to beam its searchlight on the horrendous financial activities.
He added, “The details of the monies sent by Dr. Dennis Otuaro and received by Maro-Kana Construction Co. Limited are provided below: That on July 10, 2024, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta paid ₦42,976,987.50 to Maro-Kana Construction Co Limited for consultancy on strategic communication and stakeholders’ management in the Niger Delta region, Bayelsa, and Cross Rivers State for May 2024 with payment reference 1001194577-13, Payer Code:
0111002002.
“That on July 10, 2024, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta paid ₦42,976,987.50 to Maro-Kana Construction Co
Limited for consultancy on strategic communication
and stakeholders’ management in the Niger Delta region, Bayelsa, and Cross Rivers State for June 2024 with payment reference 1001194577-19 and Payer Code: 0111002002.
“That on July 17, 2024, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta paid ₦90,000,000.00 to Maro-Kana Construction Co Limited for reimbursement of stakeholders’ management meetings in Bayelsa State for June 2024 with payment reference 1001196052-39 and Payer Code: 0111002002.
“That on July 17, 2024, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta paid ₦22,005,000.00 to Maro-Kana Construction Co
Limited for graduating fees on expenditure incurred for stakeholders’ activities as a consultant for strategic communication and stakeholders’ management in the Niger Delta region in Bayelsa and Cross Rivers for June 2024 with payment 1001196052-37 and Payer Code: 0111002002.
“That on July 17, 2024, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta paid ₦85,000,000.00 to Maro-Kana Construction Co Limited for reimbursement of stakeholders’ management meetings in Bayelsa and Cross Rivers State for June 2024 with payment reference 1001196052-19 and Payer Code: 0111002002.
“That on July 17, 2024, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta paid ₦20,782,500.00 to Maro-Kana Construction Co
Limited for graduating fees on expenditure incurred for stakeholders’ activities as a consultant for strategic communication and stakeholders’ management in the Niger Delta region in Bayelsa and Cross River States for July 2024 with Payment reference 1001196052-18 and Payer Code:
0111002002.
“That on July 30, 2024, the Office of the Special
Adviser to the President on Niger Delta paid
₦172,000,000.00 to Maro-Kana Construction Co Limited for stakeholders’ engagement activities as a consultant on strategic communication and
stakeholders’ management with payment reference 1001200261-2 and Payer Code: 0111002002.
“That on July 30, 2024, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta paid ₦35,045,000.00 to Maro-Kana Construction Co Limited for reimbursement and graduating percentage on expenditure incurred on behalf of PAP with payment reference 1001200261-16 and Payer
Code: 0111002002.
“That on August 2, 2024, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta paid ₦42,976,987.50 to Maro-Kana Construction Co Limited for strategic communication and
stakeholders’ management in the Niger Delta region based on retainership for the PAP for July 2024 with payment reference 1001202045-43 and Payer Code:
0111002002.”
Odey said that “Within these periods of receiving these monies, Dr. Dennis used the laundered public fund to instigate violence in the communities and silence any oppositions to his recalcitrant and uncanny behaviour.
It is our allegation that from the totality of the circumstances surrounding Dr Dennis dealings with Engr. Michael Ifeanyi Anoka who is a serving Commissioner in the Delta State Government, under the guise of Maro-Kana Construction Co Limited, they have swindled and laundered public funds to the tune of over 50 billion”
