Ohaneze Think Tank Calls for Investigation of Ugochinyere Over Alleged Blackmail and Extortion
ENUGU/Nigeria: An Enugu-based pressure group, the Ohaneze Think Tank, has called for a thorough investigation into the actions of Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member of the House of Representatives, accusing him of attempting to undermine the commendable progress made by Mele Kyari, the Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
In a strongly worded statement signed by its Coordinator, Dr. Azubuike Ajuluchukwu, and Deputy Coordinator, Dr. Cletus Akinyili, the group labelled Ugochinyere as a “serial extortionist and blackmailer.”
The Ohaneze Think Tank expressed relief that the House of Representatives had dissolved the ad-hoc committee, chaired by Ugochinyere, which was set to investigate what they described as “frivolous allegations” against Kyari. However, they insist that the matter should not end there, urging for an investigation into Ugochinyere’s alleged misconduct as a deterrent.
“Ugochinyere has grossly abused his position as Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Products for reasons best known to him but hardly consistent with the public interest,” the group said.
They further accused him of launching a media campaign against the NNPCL management, feeding the House and the public with falsehoods aimed at destroying Kyari’s reputation.
The group noted that Ugochinyere, under the guise of Deputy Spokesman of the House, led a scandalous effort to unseat Kyari and NMDPR CEO Farouk Ahmed without conducting a thorough investigation.
“It’s a shame that a man who claims to be a lawyer did not think about a fair hearing,” they added.
The Ohaneze Think Tank also criticized Ugochinyere’s alleged ties to the Dangote Refinery, claiming that he and members of his committee were compromised during their visit.
“Ugochinyere’s shameful indiscretion was not an accident; it was a carefully orchestrated move to advance his interest,” the statement read.
The group concluded by calling for Ugochinyere to be stripped of his position as Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Midstream) and held accountable for his actions.
“He has become a monumental disgrace to the Ndigbo and a national tragedy,” the group asserted.
Dr. Azubuike Ajuluchukwu and Dr. Cletus Akinyili, on behalf of the Ohaneze Think Tank, demanded a full probe into Ugochinyere’s activities and his alleged interest in the Dangote Refinery, stating that his actions have severely compromised the integrity of the House.
Here Is The Full Press Statement By The Ohaneze Think Tank:
OHANEZE THlNK TANK, ENUGU
Investigate Ugochinyere’s Futile Attempt to Derail Progress Made by Kyari
* Probe Ugochinyere as a serial Extortionist, Blackmailer
*PLEA FOR REMOVAL OF UGOCHINYERE AS CHAIRMAN, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PETROLEUM (MIDSTREAM)
It’s heartening that after a public outcry, the House of Representatives finally dissolved the so-called committee that was supposed to investigate the frivolous allegations against the Group CEO of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, by the so-called group of 15 members of the House.
But the matter should not end there.
That scandalous committee of 15 led by Representative Ikenga Ugochinyere must also be investigated as a deterrent.
Ugochinyere has grossly abused his position as chairman of the Ad-hoc House Committee on Petroleum Products for reasons best known to him but which are hardly consistent with the public interest.
Rather than facing the crucial task, the Ugochinyere-led committee jumped to a spiteful conclusion that Kyari and the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPR, Farouk Ahmed, should be sacrificed even before scratching the surface of a thorough investigation.
It’s a shame that a man who claims to be a lawyer did not think about a fair hearing.
Hiding under the cloak of the Deputy Spokesman of the House, Rep. Philip Agbese, Ugochinyere ignited a media agenda against the NNPCL management, feeding his colleagues in the House, especially the leadership and the general public with falsehood and a deliberate attempt to destroy Kyari’s reputation by criticising him unfairly and dishonestly to please those whose bidding he was willing to do at all cost.
But for the swift intervention of about 120 members of the House under the aegis of “1 Agenda”, Ugochinyere and his cohorts were poised to impose their sinister agenda on the House and the Nigerian public.
The only way he and people like him can learn a lesson is for them to be investigated. What is their interest in the Dangote Refinery?
We align ourselves with the views of “1 Agenda” that the calls for Kyari’s removal are baseless, unfair and hypocritical.
He deserves commendation for his leadership and transformation of NNPC Ltd, increasing crude oil production from 800,000 bpd to 1.6 million bpd.
We have every reason to suspect that the calls for Kyari’s removal are targeted at the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the petroleum minister.
We, therefore, call on the House not to stop at dissolution of the adhoc committee set up to implement the scandalous agenda of Ugochinyere and his ilk but also to investigate Ugochinyere’s interest in the Dangote Refinery further!
Ugochinyere and members of his extortionist ad-hoc committee were heavily compromised during their
visit to Dangote Refinery. They were desperate to justify and deliver to justify package.
His shameful indiscretion was not an accident. It was a carefully orchestrated move to advance his interest!
Ugochinyere as a reputable extortionist and blackmailer is a cog in the wheel of progress in NNPCL. Ugochinyere is perennially on the neck of virtually all the managements of the strategic business units (SBU) of NNPCL under his oversight engagements, blackmailing and extorting them to no end. The heads of the SBU live in constant fear of Ugochinyere, who daily threatens them for their refusal to yield to his sinister and self-serving demands. Ugochinyere is inordinately looking for money, especially dollars on a daily basis and whoever refuses to accede to his dubious requests are tagged as enemies and he would threaten to deploy the instrumentality of the committee he headed in the House to deal decisively with the innocent public officers.
Ugochinyere has shamelessly become a monumental disgrace to the Ndigbo and a national tragedy.
He should immediately be stripped of his position as chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Midstream) and be called to account for his shameful conduct, which interestingly came to light only after he visited the Dangote Refinery!
SIGNED:
- AZUBUIKE AJULUCHUKWU DR. CLETUS AKINYILI
COORDINATOR DEPUTY COORDINATOR
