Ogoni Dialogue Committee denies corruption and recruitment interference claims

The Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) has rejected allegations of corruption and misconduct leveled against its leadership by regional socio-cultural organizations. Groups including KAGOTE and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People had accused the ODC of being financially compromised by private interests and facilitating secret oil drilling activities in areas such as Ban-Ogoi and Alesa-Eleme while formal negotiations with the Federal Government were still underway.

ODC Chairman Prof. Don Baridam addressed these claims during a press conference in Port Harcourt, describing the accusations as “false and misleading.” Baridam specifically denied involvement in the selection process for a 40-slot employment package provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL). He clarified that while the employment initiative was proposed by the Ogoni delegation as a confidence-building measure, NNPCL maintained its own professional recruitment procedures, selecting candidates from its existing database of qualified Ogoni applicants.

The ODC was inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu in January 2025 to negotiate the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, which has been halted for over 30 years. Baridam stated that the committee has not awarded government contracts or received unauthorized funds, and noted that dialogue with the Federal Government is progressing toward a possible interim agreement.