By Sunday Ani
A lawyer, Indo Yohanna, has described as baseless and unfounded the recent report by Jackson Ude, purporting a $5 million oil block scandal involving the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe and Aisha Achimugu, saying it is nothing short of a sensational narrative crafted to malign credible professionals and undermine Nigeria’s upstream petroleum governance framework.
He noted that a thorough and painstaking scrutiny would show the inconsistencies and lack of credible substantiation in the allegations.
“The story peddled by Ude is riddled with unverifiable claims, unnamed sources, and conjectural assertions, all devoid of the basic tenets of investigative journalism. The reliance on hearsay and anonymous insiders is not only journalistic malpractice but also an insult to the intelligence of discerning Nigerians. The entire construct, replete with hyperbole and uncorroborated insinuations, bears the hallmarks of a politically motivated smear campaign. There is no traceable evidence, no financial trail and no formal inquiry that supports the alleged cash-and-carry oil block narrative,” he said.
He described NUPRC and Komolafe as beacons of professionalism and integrity, saying, “Contrary to the defamatory depiction, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission under the stewardship of Gbenga Komolafe has emerged as a bastion of regulatory competence and ethical stewardship. As the pioneer CEO, Komolafe has ushered in a regime grounded in the ethos of transparency, professionalism and reformative zeal, particularly with the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
“His leadership has emphasised data transparency, equitable licensing rounds and investor-friendly policies that have repositioned the Commission as a model for regulatory excellence. The accusations against him are not only spurious but diametrically opposed to the legacy he is painstakingly building. One cannot impugn the integrity of a man by mere whisperings in shadowed corners; character, like light, reveals itself in consistency and Komolafe’s record speaks volumes,” he stated.
Also, defending Achimugu, he described her as a symbol of female entrepreneurial rebirth, and not a fugitive as she was portrayed in the alleged report.
“It is both defamatory and factually incorrect to characterise Achimugu as a fugitive. There exists no court order, no bench warrant or any judicial pronouncement declaring her a fugitive or absconder under the Nigerian law. Such a designation is not only legally weighty but must be backed by formal legal instruments, not media sensationalism or politically charged conjecture. To date, no credible record exists from any competent court in Nigeria affirming that Dr. Achimugu is evading justice.
“The reality is that Achimugu is currently working from abroad on several international ventures aligned with her legitimate business interests. She has not gone into hiding and has not denied the jurisdiction of Nigerian authorities. To hastily and falsely label her as a fugitive not only violates her fundamental rights but also threatens to discourage capable women from entering the economic and political spaces traditionally reserved for a privileged few,” he said
He said the campaign to tarnish the NUPRC, Komolafe, and Achimugu was a calculated attempt to roll back the clock on reform, integrity and inclusivity. He urged Nigerians not to fall prey to tabloid antics masquerading as exposés. “Let evidence, not innuendo guide our judgment. Let us judge the tree by its fruit, not by the noise of the wind around it,” he submitted.