Ex-Niger Delta agitators defend Capt Hosa Okunbo, say Tunde Ayeni’s allegations are cheap blackmail

▪︎Urge Buhari, EFCC, others to disregard Ayeni’s lies

A coalition of former militant leaders involved in the anti-pipeline vandalization, oil theft and illegal bunkering activities along the waterways and creeks of the Niger Delta region has described as “pure blackmail” the allegations of mismanagement, stealing and diversion of funds leveled against the chairman of Ocean Marine Solutions, OMS, Captain Hosa Okunbo, by a former business partner and ex- managing director of Skye Bank, Mr Olatunde John Ayeni.

The coalition, in a press release in Abuja, said it had forwarded a protest letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector -General of Police and the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on the issue, urging them to discountenance the allegations made by Ayeni.

According to the release signed by Gen Fiawei Pathfinder, aka, General Osama, after an emergency meeting, the coalition said that preliminary investigation into the business dealings between the duo of Captain Okunbo and Mr Ayeni showed that it was a case of legitimate sale of Ayeni’S OMS’ shares to Okunbo’s company.

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According to the statement: ”For the purpose of clarification to the general public, Mr Olatunde John Ayeni approached Captain Hosa Okunbo and told him that he wanted to sell off his 30,000,000 Ordinary shares of N1 naira each that belonged to  him in the OMSL company due to his ordeal with the EFCC, and Captain Okunbo agreed and this was done on the 8th of August 2018, after proper documentations and papers had been duly signed by both parties.

“On the 26th day of November 2018, Captain Okunbo transferred the sum of N1,000,000,000 (One billion Naira to Mr Olatunde John Ayeni through his Sterling Bank account in Central Area branch in Abuja, bearing Olutoyi Estate Development and Services Ltd, an account owned by Mr Tunde John Ayeni.

“The balance of sum (of N1,000,000,000 to complete the N2,000,000,000 consideration for the shares) was paid fully in March 2019, and this information was also forwarded to the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) and EFCC for further notification for record purposes.

“The office of the vice president was duly notified, accordingly, that Mr Tunde John Ayeni has sold out all his shares of 73,150,000 ordinary shares he has in OMS Company and other subsidiary companies of OMS wish were transferred to Wells Property Development Company Ltd owned by Chief Captain Okunbo.

“Based on this fact of agreement Mr Olatunde John Ayeni also resigned his position as Director in Ocean Marine Solutions Company Ltd, (OMSL).

“Therefore, Mr Tunde Ayeni is no longer a Director and a shareholder of Ocean Marine Solutions Company Ltd and its subsidiaries.

“We therefore take this opportunity to condemn in totality the purported cheap blackmail, false allegations of lies cooked up and doctored by Mr Olatunde John Ayeni and his co-ill fated travelers who are enemies of progress that are out to dent the name of Captain Okunbo and drag it in the mud in order to inpugn the reputation and integrity of the Ocean Marine Solutions

“Enough is enough and we will not fold our hands and allow corrupt-minded fellows to dent the good name of Captain Okunbo, who is a man of honour, a peace -loving, people- friendly leader in the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large and we will do everything humanly possible to put a final stop to those who are attacking Captain Okunbo and trying to damage his name, as our kinsman from the Niger Delta  who has created a lot of job opportunities for the youths in the Niger Delta region through his pipeline surveillance contract job in the creeks of the region.” (Source: THISNIGERIA story extensively edited)