FURTHER AND BETTER PARTICULARS OF THE INVOLVEMENT OF CHEVRON NIG.LTD IN THE MURDER OF LATE MR. S.A.K. METSEAGHARUN, CHAIRMAN UGBORDO COMMUNITY TRUST, BY THEIR EXECRABLE, SURREPTITIOUS AND ATROCIOUS ROLES IN THE LINGERING UGBORODO CRISIS

With reference to our memorandum presented to the justice Oputa Human Rights Violation Investigation panel on the death of our Late Father/Husband, Mr. S.A.K. Metseagharun, we will like to elaborate some of the major roles played by Chevron till date.

  1. Chevron Nig. Ltd And The Ugborodo Community Trust

    2. The Ugborodo Community Trust remains the sole body vested

    with the full rights to deal on behalf of the Ugborodo people. It is legally inappropriate to describe the Governing Council and the Registered Trustees of Ugborodo Community trust as a Faction off the Community as implied by Chevron. The Ugborodo Community Trust was formed in 1969 and registered under the Land (Perpetual Succession) Act, 1958 but now registered under the Companies and Allied matters, Cap59 laws of the federation, 1990. Attached, as Annexure 1 is a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Ugborodo Community Trust. The Ugborodo Community Trust is not new to Chevron and the Trust has been dealing and mediating for the Community in all matters concerning the Oil companies in the Community. It is on record that officials of Chevron dealt with the Ugborodo Community Trust led by Mr. Sandys Uvwho from 1993 to 1996 when it was discovered that some members of the Trust with the hyperactive connivance of some officials of Chevron could not account for about N171 million (one hundred and seventy one million naira) Community money. As a result of this monumental betrayal, the trust was dissolved and new members were appointed. The relationship between Chevron and the reconstituted trust headed by the new Chairman, Mr. S.A.K. Metseagharun, which took over the activities of the trust, has been nothing to write home about. Against the warnings of the Reconstituted Trust and peace lovers of the community, Chevron continued to deal with the dissident groups. This action of Chevron worsened the already existing crisis, which was sparked off as a result of the embezzlement of the Community funds by the sacked Governing council of the Trust who are now facing criminal charges of conspiracy, forgery, fraud and stealing. Chevron’s divide to rule tactics without regards to the well being of the Community can be said to be a very detrimental factor that eventually led to the death of Mr. S.A.K Metseagharun. Before our late Father/Husband, Mr. S.A.K. Metseagharun was murdered. Chevron was briefed of his appointment as the Chairman of the Reconstituted Trust and the State government backed the Reconstitution. Attached, as Annexure 2 is the Letter of the Military Administrator of Delta State warning against any breach of peace and giving recognition to the Reconstituted Governing Council.


    Remnants of intertribal war

  2. The Involvement of Chevron in Supporting Terrorist Groups That Eventually Led To The Death Of Our Late Father/Husband, Mr.S.A.K.Metseagharun

The involvement of Chevron can be categorized into;

    1. Disregarding of Constituted Authority of the Community the Ugborodo

      2. Community Trust by divide and rule tactics, and also dealing with individuals linked with terrorist activities in the Community thereby causing confusion and unnecessary tension which resulted in the death of our late Father/Husband, Mr.S.A.K.Metseagharun.

    2. The direct Interference in the Community’s Socio-Political Affairs by the support of an Illegal Interim Ugborodo Committee due to the influence of a Chevron’s Public Affairs staff, Mr Joe Jakpa.

 

 

2.1 Disregarding The Constituted Authority Of The Community, The

Ugborodo Community Trust.

Chevron’s prejudice can be said to be from the onset since their take over

from Gulf Oil Co. in Ugborodo land. As far back as October 1994 Chevron

in their Internal news report proved that they did not give regard to the trust by contacting other people in the Community for selfish reasons, which could cause disharmony in the Community (refer to Annexure 3). Also in September 1998 despite the letter to Chevron by our Late Father/Husband, Mr. S.A.K. Metseagharun, informing them of the reconstitution of the Trust and also to desist from dealing with any other persons or groups and/or organizations than the governing council of the Trust, a Public Affairs staff of Chevron went ahead to witness an agreement for a contract between one Thomas Ereyitomi and Alli Ireden who claimed to be representing Ugborodo but are not. It is not a coincidence that this same Thomas Ereyitomi is among those currently facing the murder charge of Late Mr. S.A.K. Metseagharun. Annexure 4 is the copy of this agreement witnessed by Chevrons Public Affairs man, Mr. G.K. Iiuwa. Chevron continued to deal illegally despite several Court rulings that the Trust is the only legal body to handle Ugborodo Affairs by paying N20 million in July to the wrong hands. This was done without regards to the letter from the Inspector General of Police (No CN.3000/K/CI/TB/VOL.2/307 of 2nd June 1999) based on court rulings. Annexure 5 is a copy of the letter. This is just a few of the numerous occasions where Chevron dealt with non-representative of the Community thereby encouraging them financially to continue their terrorist actions.

2.2 Direct Interference in the Community’s Socio-Political Affairs

An Interim committee of Ugborodo Community was formed by the

connivance of Mr. Joe Jakpa who is a staff of Public Affairs Chevron Nig Ltd

and some Ugborodo indigenes in Lagos who were interested solely for self Aggrandizement. Why should an Interim Committee be formed when there is an existing Trust (The Chairman, our Late Father/husband, Mr. S.A.K Metseagharun had just been killed!) with a Vice-chairman acting? This involvement of Chevron brings to the open air their biased involvement in Community’s affairs. Members of this Panel include two murder suspects currently facing charges for the murder of our late Father/Husband. These suspects are Mr. Daniel Ejuetami and Mr. Wyne Agba. It is not a coincidence that the murder suspects were in the interim Committee but an actual revelation of the involvement of Chevron in supporting murderers and terrorist groups. What was the outcome of this imposed Interim Committee?

    • Diversion and Stealing of funds meant for the Community.
    • The empowerment of the syndicate group involved in the murder of our late Father/Husband.

Attached, as Annexure 6 is the charge sheet showing the connivance between

5 murder suspects of Late Mr. S.A.K Metsegharun and 2 Chevron officials arraigned before a court charged for stealing the sum of N 25 million (twenty five million naira) belonging to the Ugborodo Community. The five murder suspects are; Mr. Wyne Agba, Mr.Daniel Ejuetami, Mr Omamofe Pirah, Mr Alfred Ebami, Mr Atete Eliki and the two Chevron officials are;

    1. Mr. Joe Jakpa
    2. Mr. Shola Omole (GM Public Affairs Chevron).

This is not a coincidence but a clear revelation of the involvement of Chevron Nig Ltd and the murderers of our late Father/Husband Mr S.A.K. Metseagharun. Annexure 7 is a copy of the minutes of the meeting that led to the formation of the Interim Committee signed by two murder suspects of late Mr. S.A.K. Metseagharun. These murder suspects are; Mr. Wyne Agba and Mr. Daniel Ejuetami. Annexure 8 is a copy of the letter written to the illegal Interim Committee by Chevron and a copy of a cheque as ex-gratia payment of N5 million to this same illegal Interim Committee. Attached as Annexure 9 are copies of the letters written to Chevron by the Chairman of the illegal Interim Committee. These are just a few of the documents showing the transaction between Chevron and Miscreants linked with terrorist activities. Also attached is Annexure 10 which is a copy of an open letter by the Ugborodo Community Trust Published on Sunday Vanguard October 3 1999, commenting on the atrocious acts of Chevron Nig Ltd.

CONCLUSION

The involvement of Chevron Nig.Ltd with the suspects accused for the murder of our late Father/Husband, Mr. S.A.K. Metseagharun shows clearly their execrable role in the lingering Ugborodo crisis. Firstly, Chevron openly dealt with this suspects instead of dealing solely with the Trust before the Chairman Mr. S.A.K. Metseagharun was killed. Also Chevron encouraged these same suspects after Mr. S.A.K. Metseagharun was killed by conniving with them to form an Interim Committee, which was illegal. Secondly, Chevron as a company that is supposed to have good public relations with its host Community did not send any condolence message to the family of Late Mr. S.A.K. Metseagharun neither did they condemn the gruesome murder which implies that it was fully sanctioned by the company.