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PANDEF calls for inauguration of a board for NDDC

Published

4 years ago

June 11, 2021

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has given the Federal Government a one-week ultimatum to inaugurate a board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Leader of the forum, Chief Edwin Clark made the appeal while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

Clark, an highly respected elder statesman in the Niger Delta region said the inauguration of a board for the commission was critical in the interest of the people of the region.

Speaking on who becomes the commission`s board chairman, the elder statesman said there was no need for the perceived power tussle, adding that the best man should be given the job.

“The two persons involved are from my state and are my children, but all am interested in, is for a board to be inaugurated for the commission.

“And this should be done within the next one week, ‘’he said, adding that his desire was to see the better person for the job appointed.

Clark added that the inauguration of a new board for the commission was critical to enable it realise its mandate of impacting positively on the lives of the people of the region.

Speaking on the commission`s forensic audit initiated by Dr Cairo Ojougboh to audit the commission`s past records and verify projects before payments were made, Clark expressed hope that a new board would deliver a more acceptable audit.

He noted that the forensic audit which did not go down well with fraudulent contractors and some power brokers in the state had gulped so many monies.

Ojougboh who is the immediate past Executive Director of Project of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) hails from Ika South of Delta and he is a trained medical doctor and former member of the House of Representatives.

He graduated from the University of Benin with a Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS) in the1985 and contested the Delta governorship election in 2019.

He was a Presidential Liaison Officer to the President on National Assembly (NASS) and Special Assistant to the President on NASS between

2007 – 2011.

Ojougboh was also the Chairman, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and Presidential Spokesman APC, Presidential Campaign Council Delta.

He was a member of the Ad hoc Committee on EFCC Recoveries and a member of the House Committee on Power, House Committee on Ethnic and Privileges and the House Committee on Industries.

Most Delta Stakeholders who spoke to the NAN believed that Ojougboh is the best man for the post of the NDDC Board Chairman.

His preference they said stemmed from the fact that he is a no nonsense man with the capacity and ability to turn the commission around for good for the people of Niger Delta.

Notable stakeholders in the region are in agreement on the choice of Ojougboh, especially as they believe that the position should be spread.

A member of the Senate leadership who preferred to remain anonymous, however, said that the Senate would consider any nominee of the presidency based on merit.

The source recalled that Ojougboh’s name was earlier presented by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs at a stakeholders meeting as the preferred choice for the position.

This, the source said was applauded as there was no descanting voice.

The source said it was however surprising that the minister consequently submitted the names of Ojougboh and Bernard Okumagba to the Senate.

This, he said, may have been done out of some pressure on the minister by a high ranking Senator from Delta who was bent on forcing his choice of candidate on the people of Niger Delta.

The source wondered why the people of the region would not be allowed to have their choice candidate as was the case in board appointments.

The source said that while the presidency was waiting for the conclusion of the forensic audit on the commission before constituting a board for it, most auditors see the exercise as a scam and a lost cost.

The people of the region believe that it was only a properly constituted board that could initiate the process that would deliver an acceptable forensic audit of the commission.

They said the forensic audit was a scam and that they could therefore not wait for it to be completed before a board was constituted for the commission.

The position of Executive Chairman of the NDDC had been a subject of much debate. A compromise was reached where the position would be rotated within the nine oil producing states in alphabetical order: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross river, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers.

But the board has not been constituted since January 2020 when the previous board was disbanded to allow forensic investigation.

On June 10, the House of Representatives asked President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The lawmaker urged the government to comply with sections 4 and 12 (1) of the NDDC Act, by appointing Chairman of the commission from Delta State, Managing Director from Ondo State and Executive Director, Finance and Administration from Edo State.

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Amb Lion Ogorry Files Landmark Lawsuit Against Sahara Reporters, Sowore For Misleading and Malicious Publication Endangering National Security

Published

3 hours ago

November 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry, a renowned public advocacy practitioner and activist, today announced the filing of a high-profile lawsuit against Sahara Reporters Ltd. and its publisher, Omoyele Sowore, in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The suit, numbered FCT/HC/CV/4767/2025, accuses the defendants of publishing a false, malicious, and reckless article that violates Nigeria’s Constitution, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015, and other laws protecting public discourse, national security, and public order.

The originating summons, filed on November 24, 2025, stems from a Sahara Reporters article titled
“EXCLUSIVE: How Tinubu’s Defence Minister Matawalle Maintains Contact With Bandit Leaders, Ordered Them To Compel Communities To Vote For APC—Former Aide,” published on November 19, 2025.

Ambassador Ogorry alleges that the publication contains grave, unfounded accusations against the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, claiming he maintains illicit contacts with bandit leaders, orders communities to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC), and engages in activities that undermine counter-terrorism efforts.

These claims, according to the suit, are not only false but also fabricated to incite alarm, hatred, and ill-will, while endangering national security and public safety.

In his affidavit supporting the summons, Ambassador Ogorry, a Nigerian citizen and resident of Abuja with a long-standing commitment to public order and lawful civic discourse, emphasized that the article was disseminated widely across Sahara Reporters’ website, social media channels, X.com (Twitter) account, Facebook pages, WhatsApp broadcasts, and other platforms. He described the publication as a blatant violation of Section 39(3)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which prohibits speech that endangers public safety, national security, and public order. Furthermore, it contravenes Sections 24(1)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 by disseminating false, misleading, and harmful information capable of causing alarm or ill-will.

“The defendants’ reckless actions have not only tarnished the reputation of a dedicated public servant but have also compromised ongoing military operations against banditry and terrorism in Nigeria’s North-West region,” said Ambassador Ogorry. “This publication promotes distrust, exposes the Minister to risks, and undermines the morale of our armed forces engaged in counter-terrorism. It is a direct assault on our national security and the freedom of expression that must be balanced with responsibility.”

The lawsuit seeks the following reliefs from the court:
– A declaration that the publication is false, misleading, malicious, and not protected speech under Section 39(1) of the Constitution (as amended).

– A declaration that it falls within restricted speech under Section 39(3)(a), endangering public safety, national security, and public order.
– A declaration that it violates Sections 24(1)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 by prohibiting false, harmful, or misleading information.

– AN ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining the Defendants, their agents, or privies from further publishing, distributing, circulating, or causing to be circulated the said false publication or any other malicious publication especially as it relates to and against the person of Defence Minister, Dr. Matawalle.

– An order directing the defendants to issue a public retraction of the publication and publish a full apology on their website and social media channels for 14 consecutive days.

– General and exemplary damages of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) for the frivolous, false, and malicious publication geared toward endangering public safety, national security, and public order.

Ambassador Ogorry highlighted that the article, based on unverified claims from an alleged “former senior aide,” lacks any official record or evidence, demonstrating the defendants’ disregard for truth and ethical journalism. He urged the court to address this as a matter of urgent national importance, citing precedents such as President F.R.N. v. ISA (2017) and Guardian Newspapers v. AIEH (2011), which affirm that freedom of expression does not protect reckless publications that threaten security.

“This lawsuit is not just about correcting a falsehood; it’s about safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, protecting public officials from baseless attacks, and ensuring media accountability,” Ambassador Ogorry added. “Sahara Reporters and Omoyele Sowore must be held responsible for their role in spreading dangerous misinformation that could fuel terrorism and disrupt public order.”

The case is set for hearing in the Abuja Judicial Division, and Ambassador Ogorry expressed confidence in the judiciary’s ability to uphold justice and constitutional principles.

About Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry
Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry is a public advocacy practitioner, activist, and Nigerian citizen dedicated to promoting national security, public order, and lawful civic discourse. With a focus on protecting public discourse from malicious interference, he advocates for responsible journalism and governance.

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