By The New Diplomat’s Economic Desk
A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Israel Sunny Goli, has reportedly written to applaud President Bola Tinubu, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), over the later’s recent investigation into a case of alleged $35m inappropriate expenditure reportedly perpetrated during the time of Mr Simbi Wabote, as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board(NCDMB).
Hon Sunny Goli, who represented Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives specifically wrote to commend the EFCC for what he reportedly called a thorough investigation into “the alleged $35million fraud concerning the 2, 000 BPD Modular Refinery in Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area.”
However, the former House of Representatives Member from Bayelsa State is said to have weighed in, asking for more investigstions into the alleged fraud, stressing that th EFCC should endeavour to get to the root of the issues, and save the Niger Delta from being stripped financially.
According to the former parliamentarian, all those implicated or connected with what he described as a failed refinery project should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted as appropriate and line with the law.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had last week invited a former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Simbi Wabote for questioning, in connection with an alleged $35 million fraud involving the Brass Project.
Indeed, according to reports, Wabote’s quizzing by the EFCC is in connection with the alleged inappropriate misappropriation of public funds designated for the proposed refinery project for which $35 million was said to have been allocated and expended.
Wabote’s invitation by the anti-graft agency stemmed from the reported arrest and detention of Mr Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, CEO of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, who is facing multiple allegations of misappropriation of public funds, money laundering, and diversion of $35 million public funds.
The New Diplomat had reported that Wabote was quizzed by the EFCC in Abuja for several hours.
Meanwhile, Hon. Israel Sunny Goli, in a commendation letter addressed to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, said “the recent arrest of Mr. Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, and Eng. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and others who are key figures in the alleged fraud, has instilled hope among the people and bolstered confidence in the EFCC under your leadership.”
According to him, “It is heart-warming to observe that public confidence in the agency under your leadership has grown significantly, as you have steered a new course of transparency, focus, and zeal in the operations of the foremost anti-graft agency.
“While the arrest of the aforementioned individuals is a positive development, I respectfully request the investigation of the board chairman of the NCDMB and its members for their potential complicity in approving the award of the contract to an entity with no known track record for the construction of a 2,000 BPD Modular Refinery in Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area.
“The lack of response or support from either the board chairman or its members since I raised the petition on this matter raises significant concerns about their potential complicity in the fraudulent act…”
However, it is not quite clear why Hon Goli is weighing into the subject matter at this time. Political analysts in Bayelsa State are of the view that the political dynamics at play may have to do with the shape of things to come in the All Progressives Congress(APC) vis-a-vis the race for the governorship seat of the oil rich state of Bayelsa state in the coming years.
