By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives member, representing Sagbama/Ekweremo Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, Hon. Agbedi Frederick has call on the federal Government to urgently ensure full Implementation of the recommendations reached at the senate over Maginal field Oil block in his State
Hon. Agbedi who made call while briefing parliamentarians reporters at National Assembly Complex Abuja, disclosed that the oil block which originally belongs to Bayelsa State Government was reallocated to another company for obvious political reasons.
The lawmaker further revealed that president Buhari intervened and ordered that Atala Maginal field should be returned to Bayelsa State Government which was still pending until the Senate through it’s Committee on Ethics and Petitions through thorough investigation uncovered that all processes involved in the wrongful purchase of the oil block were fraudulent.
While expressing appreciation to President Buhari and the Senate for it’s Patriotic and selfless interventions, Hon. Fredrick urged that the perpetrators of this act be brought to justice through the law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies as a way of strengthening the nation’s institutions.
He also stressed the need to implement the resolution of the legislative arm of government on Atala Maginal field for the benefit of Bayelsans and Nigerians at large.
Fielding questions newsmen, the Lawmaker said, The Atala Marginal Field was allocated to Bayelsa State government and was managed by Bayelsa Oil Company. Sometime in 2021, we got to know that Atala that was allocated to Bayelsa has been reallocated to another company. Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation and my Federal Constituency rose in protest against it. Mr President sometime ago also ordered that 10 of such marginal fields that were allocated to the states, should be returned back to the states. Nine were returned. Only Bayelsa Atala Farms was not returned and this was what caused the Bayelsa government, the Bayelsa oil company and our investors to petition to the Senate Committee on Petition and Ethics.
“Even within the hearing period, Mr President further ordered that these blocs be returned to Bayelsa State government, the owners of the oil bloc. This had not happened until the Senate finally last week had resolved through proper investigation and hearings found out that all the issues canvassed as to purchase, as to sales, and as to ownership by the new company, Halkin Oil was fraudulent. And so the Senate resolved that the oil bloc should be restored back to Bayelsa State Government which is almost a last bus stop because from the executive arm of government, it has gone to the legislature, the legislature has also affirmed that this oil bloc should be restored to Bayelsa.
“And of course as a representative of where the oil block is found, where it is located, it is important that I stand on behalf of the people to appreciate what the legislature has done as well as what the executive has done and to further urge that this process should be completed. No stumbling block should be found again in the course of restoring this oil bloc.
“And of course if the Senate in their finding, found out that the narrative for which Halkin or whichever partner claimed that the oil blocs belonged to them were fraudulent, then of course for us to strengthen our institutions, we need to hand over such individuals or corporate organizations to the anti-corruption agencies and law enforcement agencies so that criminal investigation would be carried out and then where culprits are identified, they should be prosecuted. It is only by so doing that our institutions are so strengthened.
“I am the representative of the Sagbama Ekremor Federal Constitutbcy where the Atala Marginal Field is located. I wish to on behalf of my people convey our sincere commendation to the Senate Committee on Ethics and Petitions and specifically the Senate President and the entire Senate for standing up for what is right and restoring hope as a Senate of the people.”
