By Sam Jones
YENAGOA (SUNDIATA POST)- A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli, has commended President Bola Tinubu and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the thorough investigation into the $35 million Atlantic Refinery project.
The refinery project sited at Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State was to produce 2,000 barrels of petrol per day, but it never took off in spite of the alleged of funds by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.
Sunny-Goli who represented Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency said he was impressed with the recent diligent prosecution of graft cases and zero tolerance to corruption as part of the fight against corruption under Tinubu’s administration.
In a commendation letter addressed to the Chairman of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, made available to journalists on Wednesday in Yenagoa, Sunny-Goli hailed the arrest of Mr. Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited and Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, former Executive Secretary, NCDMB and others key figures in the alleged fraud.
Also calling for the arrest of the former Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, he said the development “has instilled hope among our people and bolstered confidence in the EFCC under your leadership.”
He said: “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. To fully understand their involvement, I recommend an immediate arrest and investigation of Timipre Sylva, being the board chairman and other members of the board.
“Nothing would be more gratifying to the people of Brass Local Government Area than to see everyone involved in the perpetration of this $35 million fraud brought to justice, with every stolen dime refunded so that the project can be executed for the benefit of all.”
Sunny-Goli extended his gratitude to President Tinubu for the unwavering stance against corruption saying, “I would like to extend my gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering stance against corruption. This firm position has expedited the investigation and arrest of those involved in grand larceny while holding public trust, particularly in this case.
“Such a resolute approach by the President serves as a deterrent to other public office holders. It is disheartening that despite the government’s good intentions towards its citizens, those entrusted with implementing policies for the benefit of the people are choosing to corruptly enrich themselves at the expense of the populace.”
Meanwhile, Wabote on Wednesday debunked his alleged arrest by the EFCC insisting that he made a routine visit to the agency just like they would invite any other person.
He stated that he honoured EFCC’s routine invitation on Tuesday, arrived at 2.00pm and left by 6.30pm, after writing his statement.
He said: “I was supposed to go there on the 29th of October but I wrote to them to say that I would be travelling out of the country and I will come when I return. Yesterday I walked in and they took my statement and I came home and slept.”
He explained that there was no fraud in the handling of the Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, clarifying that the company had cash flow challenges.
Wabote also debunked the allegation that NCDMB under his leadership made a bad investment in the Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited project.
He stated: “We invested in about 17 different opportunities and most of them are progressing, the only one that has a challenge is the Atlantic refinery. The promoter has not walked away from the project. He has written to the NCDMB, telling the board to give him a plan so he can buy them out. Even in the board meeting they have taken a resolution.
“He said he has a cash flow challenge and he will complete the project, but if you are not prepared to come along with me, agree with me a plan so that I can buy you out. So it is just a business that has a challenge. It has nothing to do with fraud and nothing to do with scam.”
