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Investigate past Nigerian leaders involved in Oil industry corruption – Group

A pro-democracy group, National Youth Organisation,  Nigerian Youth Patriots (NYP), has demanded a thorough investigation and prosecution of past Nigerian leaders and companies implicated in corruption within the country’s oil industry.
In a statement released on Thursday by the President, by Amb. Timothy Nwachukwu, the President, the NYP expressed deep concern over the widespread poverty and hardship facing Nigerian Citizens occasioned by illicit financial activities, mismanagement of resources, and collusion between government officials and private entities.
He lamented that under past Nigerian Leaders, oil blocks were almost given freely to individuals who are highly connected to those in power while these individuals re-sell the oil blocks to International Oil Companies and earn substantial income.*
He recalled that in a news publication by The Punch newspaper on March 7, 2010: 1-2, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, a former Minister of Defense and former Chief of Army Staff publicly disclosed at a forum in Abuja that he realized $500 million as profit from the total of $1 billion sales of an oil block located at Port Harcourt, River State, which was allocated to him by  late Gen. Sani Abacha.
The group stated further that a South African based news print, Business Time in October 31, 2004 exclusively reported how “a former Nigerian President was alleged to have awarded a $1 billion oil block in the nation’s most prized oil-producing zone to his wife’s hairdresser’’.
The group Stated further that a news report by The Nation Newspaper, dated Thursday June 19, 2008, Pp. 1–2,  former President Olusegun Obasanjo as minister of Petroleum from 1999-2007 embarked on “oil block bazaar’’, arbitrarily and unilaterally allocating oil block to his cronies and political associates as “a parting gift’’ for those who supported his failed “third term’’ agenda without due process.
The Nigerian Youth Patriots called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the process that led to the sale of the nation’s resources and bring those responsible for unethical acquisition of the nation’s oil block to justice.
The group urged the international community to support Nigeria’s efforts to combat corruption and recover stolen assets. They called on foreign governments and financial institutions to cooperate with Nigerian authorities in investigating and repatriating illicit funds.

 

Source: Chijindu Emeruwa| Contributor

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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