N36bn Scam: Odukpani Community Defrauded Of Multi Million Naira In Lieu Of Oil Coys Compensation
By Ndifereke BASSEY
A suspected oil servicing syndicate, WALTZ ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, has allegedly defrauded Ukim Ita community in Creek Town of Odukpani local government area of Cross River state of millions of Naira, under the guise of freeing up the sum of thirty-six billion (N36bn) allegedly owed them by oil companies arising from oil exploration in the host community.
The company, WALTZ ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS Nig Ltd, (Project Sales & Marketing Consultant), is said to have promised to facilitate the construction of road for the host community in collaborating with OANDO oil and gas company as contained in the N36bn debt recovery deal.
The promoters told the community that the road project is part of OANDO's corporate social responsibilities since Odukpani is part of oil producing states in Niger Delta region.
It was gathered that when the company came for the first time, they dangled some offers to the community, calling on them to register as sub-contractors for the supply local materials likely to be needed by the company needs to speed up the work.
Believing that they were genuine, a good number of the locals failed for the bait,volunteering to work for the company with the hope of making some quick money from OANDO.
Within that period, a lot of people supplied various items to ensure the take off of the project even as their farms, economic trees and aquatic environment were bulldozed by the contractor believing they would be compensated at the end.
THE BEAGLE NEWS investigations revealed that the company actually came in with equipment to start off the road construction but abandoned it after a few metres of earth work without any tangible excuse.
It was further gathered that on returning in April 2024, the companies came up with a new guidelines stipulating that all sub-contractors should register with the sum of five thousand Naira only (N5,000) promising again to restart construction and payment of local sub-contractors.
Some of the Whatsapp messages sent to the community members by the RUSH&4TH CONSULTS (Project Sales & Marketing Consultant) on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of WALTZ ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS Nig Ltd, Mr Samuel Ekong, and made available to THE BEAGLE NEWS, read in part: "Good morning to all partners and Contractors. Please bring along an original or copies of all your awarded projects, your Waltz certificate of registration and a verification fee of ₦5,000 per project will be paid by all contractors at the entrance/venue of the meeting today.
"Note that this is the final part of your verification as a contractor before the next stage. Payments should be made to the account details below. Account Name: WALTZ ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS NIG LTD, Bank: FIRST BANK PLC with account number: 2024303893 or GTB PLC with Account Number, 069280106."
Another message sent to members by the same Ekong states in part: "In accordance with section 419 and Sub- section 419+ of public relations and space of 1975 at Oloiberi...cum section 1958 on the ise of economic resources, we shall not open our permanent office in Akpabuyo today, Monday, 06/05/ 24 as a result of the physical contractors meeting regulations today holding at Calabar Harbor hotel and suites at No 6 Asari Eso Layout by 10:00am where all accredited contractors shall meet.
"Accordingly, our progressive partners and stakeholders are all expected to turn up in their numbers as a whisper to the Governor of Cross River State to please save our soul."
Sources closed to the community revealed that over two thousands people have already paid the N5000 levy even as Ekong is threatening that anybody who fails to pay would not be enrolled for the compensation and other benefits.
It was learnt that the company is also making an in-road to nearby community to convince them to be part of oil settlement compensation package that would released soon even as some of the villagers and contractors have started raising concerns over new demands and shifting the date of payment.
Even the women and youth of are weeping and wailing because their crops, sources of livelihood and even graves of their loved ones were destroyed during clearing and they too have not received a kobo in the compensation promised them nor have the lofty projects materialised.
The chiefs are not left out as the community members now feel they connived with the contracting firm to betray them, thus leaving so much strife and anger in the community.
Sources closed to OANDO, disclosed that the oil giant has denied having mandated WALTZ ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS NIG LTD to do anything on their behalf, cautioning the community to be beware of fraudsters.
One of the contractors, aMr Simon Okoroze, who has registered three companies Viv Ltd, Girona Ltd and Biscens Ltd, complained that after deploying heavy equipment and even carried out preliminary works at Ukim Ita, Creek Town Odukpani local governemnt area he has not received any payment from the company.
Okoroze said despite the fact that he used his own funds, and even borrowed from banks in order to mobilise heavily to site as agreed, Ekong seems to be playing pranks with his business.
He lamented that he is now being pursued by creditors, has lost his reputation, and now faces financial ruin as a result of Ekong's breach of the terms of the agreement.
Sources close to OANDO, disclosed that the oil company has denied having mandated WALTZ ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS NIG LTD to do anything on their behalf, cautioning the community to be beware of fraudsters.
Decrying the ugly development, a community leader, Etubom Bassey Ndem, said a good number of the contractors have reached out to him seeking clarification on the that WALTZ ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS NIG LTD is not working for OANDO but rather working for the host communities and thereby implying that hostq communities are aware or may be responsible for paying for the contractors mobilisation.
He said it is absurd for host communities to pay any mobilisation fees or cost to the contractor who registered with the company, adding that the host communities signed MOU's with WALTZ based on the claim that WALTZ company is working with OANDO to help free over N36 billion, allegedly owed to the host communities through the activities of the oil companies.
According to Ndem, "that claim has turned out to be false and fraudulent, thus rendering the MOUs expired and fake.
"Beside the MOU simply obliging the host communities to provide land on which the projects could be sited and said nothing about host communities providing payment to contractors in any form.
"Instead, the host communities have been waiting in vain for the past four years for either compensation or projects non of which have materialised."
Issuing a form of disclaimer, Ndem said: "All contractors should therefore note that this disclaimer discharges the host communities of any responsibility whatsoever regarding mobilization or any form of payment to Contractors or Consultants.
"If WALTZ is now claiming that they are not working for OANDO and the host communities are not responsible for paying contractors, then where is the money to pay for mobilisation going to come from and why shouldn't the contractors be paid for work done before going back to site.
"The host communities should be paid compensation for damages they suffered before new set of damages occurs just as the bank attestation from WALTZ providing that funds are available to convince the locals."
Calling Describing attempt to rope in host communities and government as disingenuous. which borders on criminal 419 activity that will attract the attention of the relevant security agencies, he advised "WALTZ to steer clear of Ukim Ita community as I cannot guarantee your safety in the hands of the embittered youth, unless you are coming with their full compensation in hand."
