News
Group fingers Olu of Warri as Brain Behind threats over Benikrukru Community Victory
Accuses Chevron Against Taking Side With Itsekiris, Warns American Oil Company To Obey Court’s Judgement
Leaders of Benikrukru Community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State are now facing threats from the various militant groups and individuals from the Itsekiri ethnic nationality following the judgement of the Federal High Court, Warri, which barred the management of the American Oil Conglomerate, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) from paying compensation to some Itsekiri communities in its Abiteye fields located in the coastal axis of Delta State.
Reports available to newsmen showed that Itsekiri militant groups are sending out threats to unleash violence and blow up the nation’s economic assets as well as death threats to notable citizens of Benikrukru community in the aftermath of the judgement delivered against Chevron and hitherto Itsekiri host communities in the Abiteye oil fields on January 31st, this year.
In one of the widely circulated threat messages, a self-acclaimed “General Iwedundun Akpakpa, said,
“It has come to the attention of GEN.
IWEDUNDUN AKPAKPA, leader of the Itsekiri Defense Council (IDC), that there is a
48-hour ultimatum given to all Itsekiris working in the Abiteye flow station to accept that they are ljaws or leave the flow station, the ultimatum also included that all Itsekiris in their God given land of Abiteye should leave the community within 48hours and Deghele and Bateren Community will start paying rent to over a paid purported court judgments in a location in Abiteye.”
The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, had ordered Chevron to “discontinue payment of compensation to Ode-Itsekiri and Deghele communities.”
The judgement was delivered by Hon. Justice H. A. Nganjiwa, as a result of a suit filed by indigenes of Benikrukru community against Chevron, Ode-Itsekiri, and other defendants in the case marked FHC/WR/CS/49/2024.
Plaintiffs in the case, Pa. Kwekwewei Onimiyenmene, Pastor Paul Willie, Elder David Kiriodougha, Captain John Abase, Elder Dogood Ogoloru, and Madam Goldcoast Jimmy, on behalf of Benikrukru Community, had sought a declaration of the court to vacate the Consent Judgment, which was first entered on March 12, 1982, in several suits involving Gulf Oil Company (now Chevron), which had expired.
Listed in the suit were Chevron Nigeria Limited as 1st, David Mode Akoma, 2nd, Doris Odemi 3rd, Pa. Samson Amaola 4th, Steve Edema 5th, Henry Temisan 6th, defendants respectively (the 2nd-6th defendants are sued for themselves and as representatives of the Ode-Itsekri/Deghele communities of Delta state).
Also listed as respondents were Dr. Peter Etchie, Friday Etuwewe, Esimaje Henry, Olori-ebi Lugard Etchie, Isaac Etchie and Sunny Etchie are listed as the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th, defendants respectively (the 7th-12th defendants are sued for themselves and as representatives of the Omateye family of Bateren community of Delta state).
The plaintiffs sought among other things the continued application of a 1982 Consent Judgment which they claimed had expired and is no longer enforceable, which hitherto governed compensation payments for the use of lands belonging to the Benikrukru community in the Gbaramatu Kingdom.”
The court granted the prayers of the plaintiffs.
Apparently frustrated by the outcome of the suit, Itsekiri militias and other aggrieved individuals have threatened to unleash terror on Benikrukru community, its leaders and indigenes.
Specifically, Akpakpa, said, “Let it be known that Abiteye land and all surrounding lands (Deghele and Bateren) belong to the Itsekiris. It was the Itsekiris who leased the Abiteye flow station to Gulf in the 90s; all the documents are there. We, the IDC, will ensure that all Itsekiri land is protected at all times.
“In the coming days, we will cause damages that will not only be felt by the Delta State Government but will also be felt by the federal government of Nigeria. When this happens, both the state and federal governments should hold (name withheld) responsible for the bloodbath and economic losses that this will lead to in Nigeria.”
“No Itsekiri child will be sent out of his land; the illegal community known as Kenyagbene on the soil of Abiteye will be brought down.
Benikrukru will be brought down.
This will be another round of the Okuoama crisis in Warri South West. It will happen. We shall all dance naked,” the faceless Itsekiri militant added.
To this end, fears have gripped Benikrukru and its citizens following the threat by the Itsekiri to unleash mayhem on the areas in protest against the landmark judgement.
Meanwhile, a Niger Delta group, Movement for Peace and Justice in the Niger Delta (MPJND) has fingered the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, as sponsor of the threat of violence by Akpakpa and others.
The MPJND, in a statement issued yesterday by its National Coordinator, Okejoto Ezekiel, said the Itsekiri king was the brain behind the planned action by his subjects to cause chaos in reaction to the outcome of the land dispute.
To exonerate himself, the group asked the Olu of Warri to come out clean by publicly condemning the planned actions and call his subjects to order.
Rather than result to violence, the group enjoined the Itsekiri monarch to prevail on his subjects to employ legitimate means to seek redress.
“The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III should be held responsible if his subjects carry out their threats to unleash terror on Benikrukru community and its citizens. We should not forget the bloody Warri crisis in a jiffy. No group has a monopoly of violence. The Itsekiri king should call his people to order so as to clear the doubts that he is the one instigating and encouraging them,” the group added.
In the same vein, the group accused Chevron’s management of apathy towards the judgement.
It accused Chevron of demonstrating lukewarm attitudes in carrying out the orders of the court as contained in the judgement.
MPJND in the statement, further said that top echelons of Chevron were having sympathy for the Itsekiri by alleged refusal to comply with the court order.
The group cautioned Chevron against partisanship, adding that, “Chevron must obey the judgement of the Federal High Court, Warri, ordering it to stop forthwith payment of compensation to Ode-Itsekiri, Deghele and other Itsekiri communities in the Abiteye fields.”
“It’s appalling that the management of Chevron is taking side with the Itsekiri in the legal debacle despite that a court of competent jurisdiction has taken a position by delivering a landmark judgment on the vexatious issue.”
A political think tank, FixPolitics has kicked against the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Nigerian Senate, describing it as a threat to democracy, gender inclusion, and the rule of law.
The organisation said that by imposing the suspension under the pretext of rule violations, the Senate had not only silenced Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan but also disenfranchised the people of Kogi Central senatorial zone, depriving them of their constitutional right to representation.
“This action blatantly disregards judicial precedents, including Senator Ali Ndume v. Senate of Nigeria (2018) and Senator Dino Melaye v. Senate of Nigeria (2016), which affirm that lawmakers cannot be suspended in ways that strip their constituents of representation”, FixPolitics said in a statement by its Executive Director, Dr Anthony Ubani.
He said, “The Senate’s repeated defiance of these rulings raises serious concerns about its commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative processes.
Beyond undermining democratic principles, this punitive measure also calls into question the institution’s willingness to address misconduct within its ranks.”
According to the FixPolitics, the suspension highlights the systemic barriers and entrenched misogyny that Nigerian women face in politics and society at large.
“Female representation in the Senate has plummeted by nearly 50 per cent – from seven women in the 9th Assembly to just four in the 10th Assembly. This decision sets a dangerous precedent that could further discourage women from political participation and silence victims of harassment.
“As a signatory to CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol, and SDG 5, Nigeria has an obligation to foster gender inclusion in governance. Actions like these reinforce exclusion, rather than progress. Moreover, public officials must always remember that they hold office in trust for the people and have a duty to model behaviour that promotes civility, decorum, and respect for all Nigerians, regardless of gender.
“Their actions should inspire confidence in the nation’s institutions and reflect the highest ethical standards.
“In today’s interconnected world, where events unfold in real-time through the Internet of Things (IoT), the conduct of public officials is scrutinised globally.”
The organisation said the “unconstitutional” suspension of a duly elected legislator denied constituents their fundamental right to representation in the National Assembly.
Ubani said, “In this case, an entire senatorial district in Kogi State is being disenfranchised – an outcome that contradicts both the spirit and letter of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The Senate, as Nigeria’s highest lawmaking body, must uphold the rule of law rather than continuously flout court rulings that protect the rights of elected representatives and their constituents.
“We stand in solidarity with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and commend her courage in speaking out on this matter. The Senate’s response sets a troubling precedent that may discourage other victims from speaking out for fear of retaliation or dismissal.
The FixPolitics unequivocally condemns the Senate’s actions and demands the immediate reinstatement of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“We call on the Senate to uphold justice, transparency, and accountability by ensuring that allegations of this nature are investigated thoroughly and impartially – free from internal biases and procedural technicalities.”
FixPolitics called on the civil society organisations, human rights advocates, and the Nigerian public to join it in demanding a legislative environment where all members could perform their duties without fear of harassment or unjust reprisal.
“The integrity of our democracy depends on institutions that serve all Nigerians without bias or discrimination. The FixPolitics is a research-driven, citizen-led initiative committed to addressing the deeprooted challenges of poor governance by recognising the central role of politics in building effective states and shaping Africa’s development, beginning with Nigeria,” the statement noted.
It added, “We remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating an inclusive, transparent, and accountable political system. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and support all efforts that promote justice, equity, and the protection of democratic values in Nigeria.”
News
More Troubles: Court Stops VeryDarkman From Publishing Defamatory Materials Against Mercy Chinwo
Justice Aliyu Yunusa Shafa of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Nyanya, Abuja has granted an order restraining a blogger, Martins Vincent Otse (aka VeryDarkman) from making defamatory publication against
a Gospel Artist, Mercy Chinwo Blessed.
The Judge granted the order following a motion exparte by the Artist in the Suit with No. GWD/CV/39/2025 with motion No. FCT/HC/NY/M/137/2025.
Justice Shafa restrained him
from “further posting, publishing, sharing, circulating, disseminating or broadcasting through any social media platform or any electronic means, any information, statement or comment whatsoever, in respect of or against the Mercy Chinwo or on any issue relating to the subject matter of this suit, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
On Thursday, a Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of VeryDarkMan for “criminal defamation” of a Gospel Artist, Mercy Chinwo.
The magistrate ordered the Nigeria Police Force, together with other law enforcement agencies, to arrest VeryDarkMan and produce him to court to answer to the criminal allegations levelled against him.
Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna issued the bench warrant following the failure of VeryDarkMan to failed to appear before the Magistrate, despite a court summon on March 5, 2025.
Although lawyer to VeryDarkMan, Deji Adeyanju, appealed to the Magistrate to rethink the bench warrant and that he would personally produce his client in court, the Magistrate rejected the appeal and insisted that VeryDarkMan be produced in court by security agencies.
The bench warrant stemmed from alleged defamatory statements made by VDM on social media, accusing Chinwo of involvement in a contractual dispute and the purported diversion of $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee.
In support of her claims, Chinwo furnished the court with documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to substantiate that VDM’s allegations were not only entirely false but damning and injurious to her public image and reputation.
The complainant’s lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor, Chinwo said the alleged actions of the defendant are contrary to Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.
Chinwo’s counsel had also dragged VDM before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking N1.1bn damages against the blogger.
The lawyer sought an order compelling VDM to delete, retract, and issue a public apology for all allegedly false and defamatory statements made against Chinwo and her brand.
ENDS***
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says its operatives have intercepted an undeclared $1.1 million and 135,900 Saudi Riyals at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
In a statement on Thursday, Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS spokesperson, said the undeclared currencies were found concealed in packs of palm dates during a physical examination of the passenger’s luggage.
Maiwada noted that the passenger, who arrived from Saudi Arabia on a Saudi Airline flight No. SV401, was convicted after being charged in court and ordered to forfeit the foreign currencies.
“In line with established procedures, the suspect and the seized foreign currencies have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and necessary legal action,” the statement reads.
“Subsequently, the court convicted the defendant as charged and ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared money to the Federal Government in line with provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.”
The NCS spokesperson added that the seizure reflects customs’ commitment to enforcing monetary regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.
He urged travelers to comply with Nigeria’s financial regulations and ensure they declare their cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when traveling in or out of the country.
“Non-compliance with these regulations constitutes a violation of Nigerian law and attracts severe penalties. The service, therefore, urges the public to adhere strictly to these requirements to avoid legal consequences,” Maiwada said.
“Under the leadership of the comptroller-general of NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, the service remains resolute in its enforcement efforts to combat smuggling, illicit financial transactions, and other transborder crimes.
“This latest seizure highlights the service’s unwavering dedication to protecting the nation’s economic interests and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.”