One billion suit: DESOPADEC in trouble over unsigned budget

The corruption ridden Delta Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) sued for one billion naira by Itsekiri Oil

Author: By Omafume Amurun

The corruption ridden Delta Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) sued for one billion naira by Itsekiri Oil and Gas host communities has admitted that the budget proposal tendered before a Warri High Court was not signed by the State House of Assembly

The commission’s Chief Legal officer, Mr. Godfrey Usele Agbamu, who was cross-examined by Barrister Amen Oriakhi, counsel to the plaintiff, made the revelation at the resumed hearing of the case.

During the cross examination, Mr. Agbamu admitted that a copy of the budget proposal he tendered before the court was not signed by the Delta State House of Assembly which has the sole authority of approving the commission’s budget before any money is spent.

Asked if that was the procedure of executing any project with such a huge amount of money without the lawmakers approving the budget, the legal officer explained that the endorsement was not contained in the copy he brought before the court as evidence.

Contending the statement of the commission’s legal officer, Barrister Amen Oriakhi said he (Agbamu) just came to tell the court bundle of lies to deceive the court.

Oriakhi further argued that it is the copy of the budget approved by the House of Assembly that is the authentic proposal, insisting that the money meant for the project earmarked for the development of Itsekiri host communities that was diverted to rehabilitate both Warri Club and the police barracks.

But Agbamu argued that huge amount of money were spent on linkage projects, especially on the construction of Jetties which gulp about N2.5 billion, common services and on security.

The Itsekiri host communities had dragged DESOPADEC to court, contending that the money meant for projects in their area was diverted to rehabilitate ‘A’ Division Police Barrack and Warri club, a federal government concern and private recreation club respectively.

Prince Ikenwoli Emiko and Godwin Omamogho, Chairman and Public Relation’s officer of the host communities, added that while other oil and gas producing communities got funds for the development of their areas, the money earmarked for Itsekiri was squandered on on-existing projects. Consequently, they also demanded for One Hundred Million Naira as fair compensation and damages to the plaintiffs just as Justice Marshal Umukoro presiding adjourned the case to September 26^th for further hearing.