NDMPRAD Says Claims Against Adokiye Tombomieye Are False, Defends His Role as Former Upstream Executive
The Niger Delta Movement for People’s Rights and Development (NDMPRAD) has defended former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Executive Vice President (Upstream), Engr. Adokiye Tombomieye, dismissing allegations linking him to the Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation project as false and misleading.
The group also accused the South South Youths Initiative (SSYI) and its National President, Comrade Imeabe Saviour, of conducting what it described as a smear campaign against former NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, and Engr. Tombomieye through the circulation of inaccurate claims.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Richard Oloige, NDMPRAD said Tombomieye never headed the Downstream division responsible for refinery operations but served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) Upstream before becoming Executive Vice President (Upstream), where his responsibilities were limited to oil exploration and production.
According to the group, attributing responsibility for the Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation project to an Upstream executive demonstrates a misunderstanding of the organisational structure of NNPCL.
NDMPRAD further rejected claims that Nigeria would repay more than $8 billion on a crude-backed loan allegedly used to finance the refinery rehabilitation, describing the assertion as financially inaccurate and based on a misrepresentation of how crude-backed financing arrangements operate.
The organisation also disputed reports suggesting that ₦210 trillion was missing from NNPCL’s accounts, arguing that the figure represented cumulative accounting balances, including expenses and receivables, rather than missing public funds.
It also dismissed allegations that Tombomieye paid bloggers to remove photographs of refinery inspection visits from the internet, describing the claim as baseless and unsupported by evidence.
The group expressed confidence in the professionalism of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), saying both agencies rely on credible evidence in conducting investigations.
NDMPRAD urged Nigerians to disregard what it described as misinformation and politically motivated allegations against the former NNPCL executive, insisting that accountability should be based on facts and due process.
