Group Alleges Plot By Ogoni Leaders To Halt Oil Operations

A group, the Conscience of Ogoni People (COOP), has accused a top traditional ruler in Ogoniland, King Suanu Baridam and two other prominent leaders in the area of plotting the truncate the resumption of oil exploration and production in the area.

It accused Baridam, who is the traditional ruler of Bangha Kingdom and chairman of the Board Trustees of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah and Managing Director of Giolee Global Resources
Limited, Mr. Lesi Maol, of attempting to use the Court to stop resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.

COOP, in a petition addressed to the chairman of Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODF), Professor Don Baridam, a copy of which was obtained by LEADERSHIP, said the trio had instituted legal proceedings before the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court, seeking to stop the resumption of operations in Ogoniland.

The suit No: FHC/PH/CS/218/2025, which is between King Dr. Baridam and 33 Others Vs. The Minister of Petroleum Resources and 7 Others is currently pending before the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt.

Copied in the petition are President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, among others.

It read in part, “The COOP was taken aback by the discovery of a certain Suit No.:FHC/PH/CS/218/2025 – between His Royal Majesty King Dr. Baridam Suanu Timothy Yormaadam & 33 Ors Vs. The Minister of Petroleum Resources & 7 Ors currently pending before the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

“Our information is thatKing Suanu Timothy Yormaadam filed the above-referenced suit with the connivance of his co-conspirators, especially Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah and Mr. Lesi Maol.

“The aforementioned suit, which was commenced vide Originating Summons, seeks a total of 17 reliefs, bordering on
alleged illegality of OML 11 arising from its size, absence of social licence of operate in Ogoniland, unbundling of OML 11 and granting priority to Ogoni contractors in the award of contract for the operatorship of the split oil blocks, among others.

“The COOP’s major concern is that there are other reliefs claimed in the above-referenced suit by these conspirators against the Ogoni collective interest which have far-reaching implications
on the consensus building already set in motion between the Ogoni people and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The COOP finds the actions
of King Suanu Timothy Yormaadam Baridam, Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah and Mr. Lesi Maol disrespectful not only to the Ogoni people, but also to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who have invested time and
resources into the process of building consensus, and who have acted on the supposition that the Ogoni people are united.

“To the extent that King Suanu Timothy Yormaadam Baridam, Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah and Mr. Lesi Maol are operating a parallel platform to push for their personal rather than the Ogoni interest, the COOP no longer feels comfortable with their continued membership of the Ogoni delegation.

“Against the foregoing backdrop, the COOP demands that King Suanu Timothy Yormaadam Baridam, Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah and Mr. Lesi Maol should be removed not only from the Ogoni Delegation to the President and the National Security Adviser on any issue
involving the Ogoni-Federal Government Dialogue on OML 11, but should also be exited from the Ogoni Delegation WhatsApp platform, until they purge themselves of their contempt for the
aspirations/interests of the Ogoni people.”