Delta community raises ₦135bn diversion allegation against Britania-U Nigeria
Residents accuse traditional leaders of misusing funds meant for development
Calls grow for independent probe and full disclosure of payments
Residents of Ogulaha Kingdom in Delta State have accused Britania-U Nigeria Limited and some traditional leaders of breaching a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and diverting an estimated ₦135 billion meant for community development.
The aggrieved community members alleged that the oil firm, which has operated in the kingdom for over a decade, failed to fulfil key obligations contained in its agreement with the host community.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
READ ALSO: Trademark Battle Erupts Over Niger Delta Investment Summit Name
According to them, the company acquired an oil well in the Aja Marginal Field under a Federal Government arrangement, with the consent of the kingdom, after which an MOU was signed outlining benefits for the community.
They said the agreement required the firm to provide scholarships, execute development projects, and remit between one and three per cent of production proceeds—up to two million barrels—to the community.
However, the residents claimed these commitments have not been honoured.
“From the date of signing till today, not a single project has been executed in the kingdom by Britania-U Nigeria Limited,” a community representative alleged.
The group further accused the leadership of Ogulaha Kingdom of diverting benefits outlined in the agreement, alleging that projects and scholarships were converted into direct cash payments for personal use.
“The chairman and his cabinet monetised all projects, scholarships, and benefits contained in the MOU. Instead of executing projects, they collected cash payments directly from Britania-U Nigeria Limited for personal use,” the source claimed.
They also raised concerns over lack of transparency, alleging that payments ranging between ₦8 billion and ₦9 billion per cycle were made without proper accountability.
“Billions of naira—estimated at ₦8 billion to ₦9 billion per transaction cycle—have been paid by Britania-U Nigeria Limited to the chairman and his associates. The total diverted funds are estimated at ₦135,000,000,000. No record, audit, or account has been rendered to the community,” the group added.
The allegations extended to the company, with residents accusing it of failing to ensure that released funds were used for their intended purposes.
“Britania-U Nigeria Limited has failed to conduct due diligence or verify whether funds released were used for the agreed projects. They continued paying the chairman directly despite the lack of development,” the group said.
The community lamented what it described as years of neglect, accusing a few individuals of enriching themselves at the expense of the wider population.
“The people of Ogulaha have suffered decades of neglect while individuals enrich themselves with resources meant for the entire kingdom. This ‘take and go’ culture must stop,” they said.
The residents called for urgent intervention, demanding that the company provide a detailed breakdown of all payments made to the community leadership, including dates, amounts and purposes.
They also urged former and current leaders of the kingdom to publicly account for all funds received, while calling for an independent investigation into the alleged breach of agreement and diversion of funds.
