₦2.7 Trillion Pipeline Claim: Olu Of Warri Demands Evidence From Asari Dokubo

By BLESSING AGWE ODUGO

Monarch Rejects Alleged ₦2.7 Trillion Payment

THE Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has rejected an allegation that he receives ₦2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts.

The monarch’s Sole Representative to NNPC Limited and its Joint Venture Partners, Prince Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema, dismissed the claim as extraordinary and potentially damaging to the monarch’s reputation.

In a statement issued on Tuesday 6 October 2026, Edema categorically denied the allegation and challenged former militant leader and Niger Delta activist Asari Dokubo to produce documentary evidence supporting it.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the allegation that the Olu of Warri receives 2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts is categorically rejected,” Edema stated.

Dokubo Challenged to Produce Evidence

Edema said the issue should not be settled through public exchanges or political rhetoric.

Instead, he urged anyone making allegations involving the monarch to provide verifiable evidence.

“We challenge Mr. Dokubo to produce the documentary evidence upon which this extraordinary claim is based,” he said.

According to him, relevant contracts, procurement records, corporate documents, government approvals and performance reports should be examined if questions exist about pipeline surveillance arrangements.

He added that regulatory and institutional records should form the basis of any investigation into alleged wrongdoing.

Pipeline Security Has Wider Economic Implications

Beyond the dispute between individuals, Edema said pipeline surveillance remains a matter of national importance.

Nigeria’s pipeline network supports the production and movement of crude oil and petroleum resources. Consequently, its security affects government revenue, foreign exchange earnings and broader economic activity.

Edema argued that pipeline surveillance contracts therefore go beyond ordinary commercial transactions.

He described the sector as one operating at the intersection of commercial interests, energy security and national security.

For that reason, he said legitimate concerns should receive proper institutional scrutiny.

However, he cautioned against allowing unsubstantiated allegations to replace evidence.

“If no wrongdoing is established, politically charged allegations should not be allowed to substitute for evidence,” he said.

Edema Urges Evidence-Based Debate

The Olu of Warri’s representative also addressed Dokubo’s history as a prominent Niger Delta militant and political figure.

He cautioned against either automatically dismissing or accepting the former militant’s claims because of his public profile.

According to Edema, Dokubo’s past should neither be used as proof that his latest allegation is false nor treated as evidence that it is credible.

Instead, he said, the substance of the claim should be tested against available evidence.

“His claims must stand or fall on the quality of the evidence supporting them,” he stated.

Warning Against Ethnic Tension

Edema also expressed concern about the potential consequences of inflammatory statements in the Niger Delta.

He specifically referenced relationships among Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo communities in the Warri area.

According to him, the region’s history includes longstanding grievances and competition, making responsible public communication particularly important.

He warned that unsubstantiated claims could revive old suspicions and deepen ethnic tensions.

“The Niger Delta has paid a heavy price for politics conducted through confrontation and inflammatory rhetoric,” Edema said.

He therefore urged stakeholders to avoid statements that could reopen historical wounds.

Accountability Should Remain the Focus

Edema said the central issue should ultimately be whether the pipeline-surveillance allegation can withstand independent scrutiny.

He summarised his position around three principles: the person making an allegation should provide evidence, the accused should have an opportunity to respond, and matters involving national assets should undergo institutional scrutiny.

According to him, decisions concerning oil infrastructure and energy security should not be driven by political rhetoric, ethnic suspicion or individual personalities.

He maintained that pipeline security ultimately concerns the protection of national assets, economic activity and a critical component of Nigeria’s economy.

Edema therefore called for the controversy to be resolved through evidence, accountability and proper institutional oversight.