N45.9bn NIMASA scam: Reps raise alarm over military presence in Ijaw communities

Julius Pondi, member of House of Representatives, on Thursday, expressed concern over the heavy military presence in his constituency, in the bid to arrest Government Ekpemupolo (otherwise known as Tompolo), a former leader of the Niger Delta militants.

Solomon Arase, Inspector General of Police (IGP), had on Wednesday issued a warrant of arrest on Ekpemupolo who was earlier declared wanted by the EFCC in connection with a N45.9 billion fraud in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Pondi, who spoke during the 2015 budget performance and 2016 budget defence of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), specifically expressed regret over the abuse of human rights during the invasion of innocent Nigerians in Ijaw communities by the previous administrations, which led to the death of several innocent people.

He said: “In 1999, it was under the command of Obasanjo; in 2009, it was under the command of President Yar’Adua and in 2010 it was under Goodluck Jonathan. Now, we are beginning to wonder if it is a tradition in Nigeria that every civilian government would invade one Ijaw community in the Niger Delta.

“Because, as it appears now, this is under Buhari’s government and we’re on the verge of being bombarded again. What are the penalties for past culprits, so such an act would not be repeated?”

In his remarks, Edward Pwajok, chairman, House Committee on Human Rights, stressed the need for the commission to curtail the spate of human rights violations across the country.

In a swift reaction, Bem Angwe, NHRC executive secretary, assured that the commission had initiated a meeting with the service chiefs in the bid to avoid abuse of human rights.

Angwe said: “We are not even going to wait and see what will happen against your people under this regime. We are going to intervene immediately.

“Let me give you my word, now that the magnitude of that issue has been brought to our attention, by tomorrow (yesterday) I’m going to meet with the heads of the military in Nigeria to prevent what happened in Odi and other places.

“One person should be taken anywhere that person is, if the person is in conflict with the law. That is our stand. We will not allow an entire community to suffer for the alleged crime of one person. That is what our stand is going to be.”

While responding to questions on the outcome of its intervention in the previous crisis, the NHRC boss argued that it would be counter-productive to talk about the penalties for the last presidents in public.

“For what has happened (Odi, Zaki Biam, Gbaramatu) and for whosoever may have been culpable, I will discuss with you in private on the way forward against these people, let me not stand here and say it so that people will not work against what were going to do,” Angwe said.

KEHINDE AKINTOLA