Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Delta State born journalist and Niger Delta activist, Iteveh Nur’ Ekpokpobe, in Abuja over allegations of cyberbullying reportedly linked to his anti-corruption activities.
Ekpokpobe and his lawyer, Onyishi Chukwuemeka, were said to have been arrested on February 4 in the Federal Capital Territory. According to sources, the arrest followed complaints allegedly connected to the recently removed Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe.
An associate, who spoke anonymously, suggested that the arrest is connected to Ekpokpobe’s role in organising anti-corruption protests and convening a coalition of civil society organisations that called for an investigation into the NUPRC. The source explained that Ekpokpobe, a prominent Pan-Niger Delta activist and anti-corruption advocate, had previously led protests against alleged corruption involving public officials both within and outside Abuja.
The source further claimed that the coalition’s sustained calls for a probe into the NUPRC eventually led to the removal of Komolafe as chief executive and the appointment of Ms. Oritsemuyiwa Eyesan as his replacement. During Komolafe’s tenure, the coalition accused him of widespread corruption, regulatory misconduct, asset manipulation, and revenue concealment, which it said cost the federation massive revenues during a period of serious fiscal strain.
Among the allegations were claims that several oil and gas assets—including Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 119, 129, 113, and 31, as well as Oil Prospecting Licences (OPLs) 2005 and 2006—were deliberately misrepresented or concealed as non-producing or non-existent. The coalition alleged that this resulted in revenue losses estimated at over $20 billion from crude oil sales, gas monetisation, royalties, and taxes.
Additional accusations involved alleged fraudulent alterations to OPL 227 and OML 146, where acreages were said to have been unlawfully reduced without due process, leading to the loss of petroleum-rich areas. Similar claims were made regarding OMLs 33, 46, and 74, with the coalition alleging that large portions of acreage were hidden, costing the country billions of dollars in potential revenue.
Since his arrest, Ekpokpobe has reportedly been held incommunicado, with no official confirmation of his location or condition. His lawyers have allegedly been denied access despite repeated attempts, and more than seven days after the arrest, he has not been allowed to make a phone call or meet with legal counsel. As a result, his family and associates say they have no independent confirmation of his wellbeing.
The source alleged that the cyberbullying complaint was filed by Komolafe, the former NUPRC chief executive, and claimed that he is using his influence and personal connections with the Director-General of the DSS to ensure Ekpokpobe remains detained.
Condemning what they described as an illegal arrest and detention, the source called on the DSS to immediately and unconditionally release Ekpokpobe and his lawyer or hand them over to the police for proper prosecution if there is a case to answer.
Family members of both Ekpokpobe and Onyishi Chukwuemeka have also denounced the arrest, describing it as unlawful and demanding their immediate release.
As at the time of filling this report, the DSS had not issued any official statement explaining the circumstances of the arrest or outlining the specific charges.
