Sahara Reporters targets Oddiri over Niger Delta funds privatisation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) views with serious displeasure the insinuations contained in a news story published by Sahara Reporters titled: “DSS Abducts Lawyer Moses Oddiri in Lagos after Petition on Diversion of Funds by EFCC Chairman.”

According to a statement on Friday, 21 November 2025, signed by Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, the story, contrived to portray the arrest of Oddiri “on the orders and petition of the EFCC chairman over alleged diversion of funds intended for a community that Moses has been advocating for over the years,” is a falsehood taken too far.

Oddiri’s account is one of the pursuit of self-interest against communal welfare. The Niger Delta Host Community Trust Fund—paid into the bank accounts of two Host Community Benefit Trusts (HCBTs) as prescribed by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)—is the bone of contention. Oddiri wanted the funds paid into the account of his non-governmental organisation, in flagrant violation of the PIA.

The background to the payment is as follows: the EFCC Chairman, incensed by the delayed release of the funds to two host communities in Delta State, directed those diligent investigations be carried out. Defaulting companies were uncovered, and the findings led to the payment of the funds as prescribed by the PIA and the guidelines of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The funds, paid in 2024, were lodged in the bank accounts of the two HCBTs. However, since the payment was made, Oddiri has been on the offensive against the EFCC and its Executive Chairman, insisting that the money should have been paid into his NGO’s account.

On the strength of his illegal and self-centred demands, the EFCC has convened stakeholder meetings with community leaders, regulators and representatives of oil companies from the two host communities on two occasions—first in Lagos and then in Abuja.

At one of the meetings, the EFCC Chairman emphasised: “Our role is to ensure that funds designated for a particular community are not diverted elsewhere; that unauthorised individuals do not illicitly benefit; and that resources are channelled into tangible development projects such as electricity and potable water.”

Oddiri’s gangster-like moves and campaign of calumny against the EFCC Chairman are not new. His spiteful, malicious and unfounded claims of diversion of the funds by the EFCC boss have appeared on various social media platforms, including Sahara Reporters. The commission is initiating legal action against this latest malicious publication by the online platform.

The EFCC is aware that the same baseless claims have repeatedly been made against Heritage Energy Operational Services (HEOS) Ltd. Leaders of the two host communities are aware of his egocentric motives and can be contacted for verification.

Legal suits have already been filed against the serial blackmailer by both the EFCC Chairman and HEOS, as well as a petition submitted to the Department of State Services (DSS).

While the EFCC will not be stampeded or blackmailed into compromising extant legal frameworks governing the disbursement of funds to the two host communities, the media is urged to always balance its reporting and not allow characters like Oddiri to sway it into prejudice and blackmail.

The EFCC remains focused on its mandate and will continue to act in the overall best interest of the nation.