Dr. Goodluck Diigbo Alleges President Tinubu Administration Violated Section 419 Of Nigeria’s Criminal Code

ays claims of petroleum “re-entry” into Ogoniland by NNPC Ltd are false and a calculated act of state-sponsored disinformation

potting Falsehood as Statecraft: Dr. Diigbo points to Fabricated Petroleum Re-entry Claims in Ogoniland.

In a message today, October 25, 2025, marking OCIA Month-Long Awareness Rally: TO STOP PETROLEUM RESUMPTION IN OGONILAND; jointly hosted by 12 provinces and 19 districts; OCIA president said NNPC Ltd. on September 26, 2025, disregarded the truth and reality, and blatantly asserts petroleum “re-entry” into Ogoniland.

“This is not a miscommunication—it is a calculated act of state-sponsored disinformation, designed to mislead the Nigerian public, manipulate global investor sentiment, and undermine the sovereign will of the Ogoni people;” Diigbo averred.

No Re-entry Has Occurred. No Consent Has Been Given.

Continuing, Dr. Diigbo said: “There has been no petroleum re-entry into Ogoniland. The Ogoni people have not granted Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)—a non-negotiable standard under international law and Indigenous rights protocols. The NNPC statement is a false representation of reality, and its implications are not only deceptive but dangerously destabilizing.

This falsehood threatens to reignite tensions in a region still recovering from decades of environmental destruction, militarization, and systemic marginalization. It is a reckless provocation masquerading as reconciliation.”

Violation of International Law and Indigenous Sovereignty

Dr. Diigbo made clear: “Nothing is hidden on our side. OCIA is actively enforcing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), particularly:

• Article 3: The Ogoni people have the right to self-determination, including autonomy over their political, economic, and social development.
• Article 4: The Ogoni people have the right to self-government in matters relating to internal and local affairs.
• Article 5: The Ogoni people have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social, and cultural institutions.”

According to him: “The Nigerian government has failed on several grounds to meet the non-negotiable preconditions set forth by OCIA for any engagement in petroleum operations, including:

• Recognition of Ogoni sovereignty over ancestral lands and natural resources.
• Constructive engagement on historical and ongoing violations of Ogoni rights.
• A fresh, transparent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIAS) conducted with full community oversight.
• Binding agreements that respect FPIC and establish a framework for community-led development.”

Dr. Dived into Domestic Criminal Law: Section 419 and the Crime of False Representation.

He stated that under Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code:

“Any person who by any false pretence, and with intent to defraud, obtains from any other person anything capable of being stolen, or induces any other person to deliver to any person anything capable of being stolen, is guilty of a felony…”

These, he said, includes:

• False representation of fact or law, whether past or present.
• Intent to defraud, even if the property is later returned.
• Inducement through deception, including written or verbal claims.

OCIA President pointed out implications for the NNPC Press Statement:

“If the Nigerian government or its agencies knowingly issue a public statement asserting petroleum re-entry into Ogoniland—without actual re-entry or community consent—this could be interpreted as:

• False representation of a material fact.
• Intent to induce investors or stakeholders to commit resources under false pretence.
• A violation of both domestic criminal law and international standards on transparency and Indigenous rights.

Dr. Diigbo underscored what he described as “The Irony and the Crisis of Legitimacy”.

“The Nigerian government is invoking the language of reconciliation while engaging in conduct that—under its own laws—could be classified as fraudulent inducement. This contradiction exposes a deeper crisis of legitimacy and governance, especially when the same constitution is used to prosecute ordinary citizens for lesser acts of misrepresentation.

Rebranding deception as progress is not just unethical—it is criminal. And when paired with the violation of UNDRIP Articles 3, 4, and 5, it becomes a global concern for Indigenous sovereignty, environmental justice, and investor accountability”, Diigbo said.

The Ogoni President declared OCIA’s Commitment to Truth, Sovereignty, and Resistance

Diigbo said OCIA remains resolute in its mission to:

• Mobilize peaceful resistance through awareness rallies under the banner: STOP PETROLEUM RESUMPTION IN OGONILAND.
• Expose 419-style disinformation and false representation by state actors.
• Strengthen Indigenous governance and promote community-led development rooted in justice and sustainability.
• Defend Ogoni ancestral lands from trespass, coercion, and extractive exploitation.

“We welcome genuine investors and international partners who respect Indigenous sovereignty and uphold global standards of ethical engagement. We urge the global community to remain vigilant against 419-style propaganda that threatens international peace, environmental integrity, and the dignity of Indigenous peoples.

he Nigerian government’s attempt to rebrand deception as progress—while operating under a defunct constitutional framework that criminalizes 419 activities—is a direct affront to the principles of transparency, accountability, and lawful governance,” Dr. Diigbo added.

Dr. Goodluck Diigbo

President, Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority (OCIA)

Culled from: The Nigerian Voice