Oil communities, DESOPADEC suit continues Nov 14

[MrVan]

By Emma Amaize

WARRI—THE legal tussle between Itsekiri Host Communities and Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, over alleged reckless diversion of N1 billion meant for development of host communities, continues November 14, before a Delta State High Court sitting in Warri and presided over by Justice Marshal Umukoro.

The Itsekiri oil and gas producing communities had dragged the state's oil agency to court for expending money meant for their development on renovation of Police Barracks in Warri and Warri Club, both government and private concerns well outside the specific mandate of the commission.

Chairman of Itsekiri Host Communities, Prince Ikenwoli Emiko, insisted, under cross-examination by defence counsel, M. E. Sadjere, that the plaintiffs decided to go to court because the commission failed to settle the matter amicably, even after the current chairman, Mr. Oritsuwa Kpogho, who was head of Finance Department, at the time, waded into the matter.

Asked if he was unaware that all the monies allocated to the commission was not meant for Itsekiri ethnic group alone, Prince Emiko, who answered in the affirmative, maintained that they were in court to redress the marginalisation against his people.

Vanguard Nigeria

[Folami David]

I cannot wait for all this to be resolved.
The court should hurry up