A group in the Niger Delta region has submitted a fresh petition against the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Ndutimi Alaibe, alleging massive corruption and looting in the Commission. It urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) to commence immediate investigation of the MD.
In the petition, submitted to the EFCC and copied to SaharaReporters, the group "Concerned Niger Deltans" based in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, accused Mr. Alaibe of turning the NDDC into his personal property.
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The group’s spokesperson, David Denilson said, "It is worthy to note that the NDDC is bugged down by massive corruption hence billions of Naira voted to the commission by the Federal Government and oil companies have no positive impact on the lives of the people of the Niger Delta region."
The group alleged that Mr. Alaibe, who was the Executive Director responsible for Finance in the commission before he became the Managing Director, has siphoned billions of Naira from its coffers, building castles in his village and buying up choice properties in major cities in Nigeria and London. They also accused him of spending billions of naira of the commission’s money in his bid to be "Governor of Bayelsa State in 2007".
In making their point about Alaibe's possession of properties in London, they attached to their petition United Kingdom land registry documents. They include land title Number NGL331782 of Alaibe's alleged property at 180 Verulam Court, Woolmead Avenue in London shown to have been purchased outright for 180,000 pounds in 2005. It was registered to a suspicious offshore entity known as A3 PROPERTIES LIMITED (incorporated in the Republic of Seychelles) and put in the care of Sterling Partnership of 230 Borough High Street, London SE1 1JX.
SaharaReporters investigations shows Sterling Partnership of 230 Borough High Street, London SE1 1JX is co-managed by a Nigerian born UK-based attorney Boma Ozobia. Ms. Ozobia is listed as a legal practitioner and senior partner of Sterling Partnership in the UK.
According to a UK-based website, Naija Konnections, Mrs. Ozobia is described as a “shrewd business woman who sits on the board of several off shore companies and jointly owns Juanita Hotels Limited with her husband, which in conjunction with the International Intercontinental Hotel Group will shortly be opening the first Holiday Inn in Port Harcourt.” Jaunita Hotels recently opened in Port Harcourt.
The petition further stated that Mr. Alaibe has been using fronts like JCC Construction Limited, a Port Harcourt based company, to execute inflated contracts and launder money.
The petition calls for the investigation of the company, and names alleged collaborators of Mr. Alaibe: "We seek that JCC construction be investigated immediately to ascertain all contracts they executed for the NDDC and its value. We also ask the following persons be investigated and arrested. Mr Osim Iwara of the State Security Service has compromised his job by becoming an informant and double agent to NDDC and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has acquired several assets and cars posing as informant to Mr. Timi Alaibe. He should be arrested and investigated immediately. Mr Faith Olumide of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) should also be arrested immediately for money laundering on behalf of Mr. Timi Alaibe.
“We are also aware that Mr. Alaibe has been boasting that Mr. Emmanuel Akomaye was his colleague and also Tunde Ogunsakin of the EFCC is on his payroll.
“Mr Timi Alaibe in his usual style will destroy the newly created Niger Delta Ministry and frame up Ufot Ekaette the new Niger Delta Minister."
In ending the petition, the group called on the EFCC chairperson, Farida Waziri, to act swiftly by bringing Alaibe's activities under proper investigation and possible prosecution alongside his collaborators in the security agencies.
At the time of going to press, it was unclear whether the petition had also been copied to the mainstream mass media, most of which avoids such documents unless the allegations come from such government agencies as the EFCC itself.
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