Date Published: 03/04/11

Bayelsa’s Richest Politician EFCC Cannot Arrest! by Eghosa Osaro Esq.

Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi

There is a saying in George OrIlls Animal Farm that all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. This aphorism appears nonsensical but it seems to have assumed form now. The story is the same thing in Yenagoa. Ask anybody in the streets of Yenagoa or Imiringi, they will tell you Ebebi may be the wealthiest man.  Why nor, Azibayan asked. He has been in government from 1999 till date, and he has an insatiable penchant for acquisition of property. This is too good to be true.

Bayelsa State has been denied much-needed development since her creation because of official corruption perpetrated by public officers. The Initiative for the Restoration of Accountability (IRA) is not comfortable with the trend of arrested development. IRA has taken the responsibility of advocacy and creating awareness to strengthen governmental institutions to insulate them against corruption to promote accountability. I am now going the extra mile of soliciting the support of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate some brazen cases of corruption and prosecute such cases so that it would serve as a deterrent to other public office holders. I believe that with the timely intervention of EFCC, the State will recover part of the monies stolen by public officers and deploy such funds to the provision of health and educational infrastructure in the State. 

My case against Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi is that he used his privileged position as Deputy Governor and awarded contracts running to several billions of Naira to himself and his cronies. My investigations revealed that the impeached Deputy Governor is directly linked to the following contracts awarded to Aleibiri – his Community.

1.      T he Bayelsa State Government awarded a contract for the Dredging & Sand filing of ALEIBIRI NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT. There are allegations that Hon. Ebebi collected monies for the execution of the contract and abandoned the project. The impeached Deputy Governor is directly linked to the abandonment of the multi-billion project.

2.      The Bayelsa State Government approved the establishment of a TECHNICAL COLLEGE for Aleibiri Community. This laudable project did not see the light of day.

3.      Allegations are rife that Hon. Ebebi also denied the community the accomplishment of that project because the funds earmarked for the project was misappropriated.

4.      Government provided 2 500KVA Generators for the Aleibiri Community. These facilities have been privatized at the expense of the Community. The 2 generators have been converted into personal property.

5.      The contract to convert the Aleibiri Health Centre into a General Hospital, but the money so earmarked was embezzled. Accusing fingers are pointed at the Hon. PeremoboIi Ebebi for deliberately stalling the execution of the project.

6.      Government also awarded a contract to build a modern Secretariat Complex for the Aleibiri Local Government Headquarters, but my investigations shoId that the money earmarked for the project was pocketed by Hon. PeremoboIi Ebebi. He built a bungalow in place of a Secretariat. Consequently, the Chiefs and elders of the Community protested. To cover up these irregularities, Ebebi paid each of the 20 Chiefs of Aleibiri the sum of One Million Naira (N1, 000,000.00) to work against the opposition.

The list of such properties fraudulently acquired is not exhaustive. The deduction is that Hon. Ebebi used his office to influence the award of contracts and made money through corrupt means. Most of the said contracts Ire awarded without due process.  Through such contracts, Ebebi diverted public funds into private accounts to acquire property at the expense of the people.

My independent investigations in and around Yenagoa revealed that the following properties are owned by Hon. Ebebi.

                                 EBEBI’S PROPERTY IN YENAGOA

     LOCATION                                                  TYPE OF REAL ESTATE                     VALUE IN NAIRA

1.       Agudama by Chief PoIll’s Building                   Mansion                                       250 million

2.       Old INEC Road Opposite Latik                         2 Buildings                                    110 million

3.       Baybridge Road                                                     Mansion                                      110 million

4.       Bay Bridge                                                               Filing Station                              550 million

5.       Ogu Town                                                               270 Plots of Land                         270 million

6.       Igbogene Gateway Road                                   400 Plots of Land                                 400 million

7.       Old PDP Road                                                         Building                                            40 million

8.       Biogbolo Ebebi’s Junction                                  Mansion                                             500 million

9.       Latik Hotel Old INEC Road                                   Hotel                                                  550 million

10.   Customs Road                                                         Building                                             70 million

11.   Erepa Road                                                               Building                                             40 million

12.   Agudama                                                                  Building                                              70million

13.   Bay Bridge Opposite Ebi’s Residence         Estate                                                        600 million

14.   Aleibiri                                                                       4 Storey Hotel Mansion                 450 million

15.   Aleibiri                                                                       Mansion                                            870 million

16.   Tuomo Water Front                                             One Building                                         91 million

17.   Tuomo Inland                                                         Mansion                                            550million

I have not concluded investigations on several other property, but as I continue to with my independent investigation, I believe it is the right time for the EFCC to commence investigations into the aforementioned properties. When a man engages in primitive accumulation and deprives the people of what rightly belongs to the people, there comes a day of reckoning. As a result of his corrupt enrichment, Bayelsans from his constituency are denied basic health facilities, quality education and potable water. I, on behalf of Initiative for the Restoration of Accountability on behalf of the people of Bayelsa State want Hon. PeremoboIi Ebebi prosecuted. Without delay before he escapes from Nigeria. The stagnated development in the State is partly the result of such cases of mindless diversion of public funds. The allegations of corrupt enrichment and diversion of public funds also constituted some of the grounds for his impeachment.

ILLEGAL DEDUCTIONS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS

In particular, I want the EFCC to investigate the management of Local Government Funds in the State from 2006 till 2009. I learnt on good authority that during this period, Hon Ebebi was in charge of the management of Local Governments Funds. During this period, the Initiative was reliably informed that Ebebi circumvented official procedures of accountability and made illegal deductions of N5 million in each of the 24 LGAs. There Ire also reports that he deducted more money from the 8 federally recognized LGAs. The allegation that this ill-gotten Ialth was used to land and landed property has been proved by the huge properties.

MISMANAGEMENT OF 29.6 MILLION MEDICAL TREATMENT ALLOWANCE

Ebebi should also account for the N29.6m overseas medical treatment allowance approved for him by Governor Sylva in February, 2009, which was one of the ten grounds for his impeachment. The non-accountability of such funds is bad precedent that is capable of polluting the public service. I believe that the former Deputy Governor abused his office and refused to live up to the higher ideals that are deserving of his position.

The Initiative for the Restoration of Accountability challenges the EFCC to investigate the aforementioned allegations against Hon. PeremoboIi Ebebi since the he is not covered by immunity any longer.  I will also explore other constitutional means to recover the ill-gotten Ialth of Hon. Ebebi, and I expect him to make full restitution for the heinous crime committed against his own community.

Initiative For the Restoration of Accountability is asking why it is very difficult to investigate the smyces of stupendous Ialth of the former Deputy Governor and now Senatorial Candidate of the Labmy Party, in Bayelsa State.? Is it true that the anti-graft agency only catches small fishes because big fishes will tear EFCC net?  Could it be that Farida’s investigative officers have gone on leave or is it a clear case of selective treatment? EFCC has to answer so that the people’s confidence in the Commission will not waver. But both INEC and the EFCC will clear Ebebi to contest.  While some count him as a very lucky kleptocrat, others say he is a cat with nine lives.

Eghosa Osaro, is a Warri-based Legal Practitioner osasaghosa@gmail.com