The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has exposed an alleged scheme by Lagos-based lawyer Moses Oddiri to hijack funds allocated to Niger Delta host communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), clarifying that disbursements were made lawfully to designated trusts while debunking sensational claims of agency misconduct. The commission’s revelations underscore its vigilance in safeguarding regional resources from personal exploitation, amid ongoing efforts to channel oil revenues into vital community development projects.
In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, the EFCC refuted a Sahara Reporters article titled “DSS Abducts Lawyer Moses Oddiri in Lagos After Petition on Diversion Of Funds By EFCC Chairman,” labeling it a “fabricated falsehood” designed to smear EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede as vindictive. The report falsely alleged that the Department of State Services (DSS) abducted Oddiri following his petition accusing the EFCC head of diverting community funds. Instead, the EFCC detailed how Oddiri, through his non-governmental organization (NGO), demanded that millions of naira in 2024 remittances—intended for two Host Community Benefit Trusts (HCBTs) in the Niger Delta—be redirected to his private account, a move that would flagrantly violate PIA provisions and OPEC guidelines.
The funds in question stemmed from an EFCC investigation into delayed remittances by defaulting oil companies, which prompted proper disbursements earlier this year to compliant HCBTs for community upliftment. “Our role is to ensure that funds designated for a particular community are not diverted elsewhere, that unauthorized individuals do not illicitly benefit, and that resources are channeled into tangible development projects such as electricity and potable water,” Olukoyede affirmed during stakeholder engagements. The commission highlighted that Oddiri’s refusal to accept the legal process led to a barrage of defamatory online campaigns, including baseless accusations against the EFCC and Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd., an oil firm involved in the remittances. These attacks have prompted separate legal suits by the company and a petition from Oddiri to the DSS, which the EFCC dismissed as manipulative tactics.
To mitigate tensions, the EFCC organized high-level meetings in Lagos and Abuja with Niger Delta community leaders, regulatory bodies, and oil company executives, fostering transparency and consensus on fund utilization. Community representatives, according to the commission, are fully aware of Oddiri’s “self-serving motives” and support the safeguards in place. The EFCC is now pursuing legal action against the impugned Sahara Reporters publication and reiterated its unyielding stance: “We will not be intimidated into breaching legally established procedures for disbursing community funds.”
This episode shines a light on broader vulnerabilities in the management of Niger Delta resources, where the region—contributing over 80% of Nigeria’s oil exports—continues to grapple with equitable distribution amid environmental and infrastructural deficits. By prioritizing compliance with the PIA, the EFCC aims to ensure that host community funds fuel real progress, from clean water initiatives to power infrastructure, rather than lining private pockets. The commission urged media outlets to prioritize balanced reporting over agendas driven by “individuals with personal interests,” affirming its mandate to protect national assets.
As legal proceedings unfold, stakeholders in the Niger Delta watch closely, viewing this as a test of institutional resolve against corruption. The EFCC’s actions align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing anti-graft measures to bolster regional stability and economic inclusion.
