Azibaola Robert | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | |
Nationality | Nigerian |
Education | Rivers State University |
Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, Lawyer, human rights and environmental advocate. |
Known for | Environmental advocate |
Awards | Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards |
AzibaolaRobert, (born 13 February 1969) [1] is a Nigerian entrepreneur, [2] Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), industrialist, lawyer, human and environmental rights advocate, [3] [4] founder of Zeetin Engineering Limited, managing director of Kakatar Group and a receiver of Vanguard Personality award of the year. [5] [6] Robert studied law at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Portharcourt, (now Rivers State University) and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1995.
Robert, was born on the 13th of February, 1969 in the Otakeme community, Bayelsa, in 1969. [7] He studied law at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology before he was called to the Nigerian bar in 1995. [8] In 1999, Robert founded Mangrovetech Limited, a civil engineering company that metamorphosed into Kakatar. [9] In 2018, Azibaola founded Zeetin Engineering to produce high-end technology and heavy-duty equipment to produce the first electrical automobile in Nigeria. [10] Later, the Nigerian Society of Engineers conferred on him a Fellow of the society. [11] In 2021, he initiated a campaign to preserve rainforests and their wildlife in his country. [12] He led the Niger Delta Human and Environmental Rescue Organisation (ND-HERO) to advocate peace and environmental justice in the Niger Delta region. As of 1993, Robert served as the NANS vice president. He is a cousin to Goodluck Jonathan, former president of the federal republic of Nigeria. [13]
Azibaola underwent a 14 days expedition into one of the Niger Delta deep forests, with his team aimed at showcasing the nature documentary, preservation, and impact of climate change on the entity as a result of the adverse environmental practices, by the inhabitants of the region by seeking collaboration with the ecological enthusiasts, government, and mission-aligned organizations. The two hour documentary-film series highlighted the story of his people and living in the creek. The adventure was a journey of 25 kilometers, from human civilization, while the team covered over 400 kilometers to explore the forest. [14] [15]
In 2016, Robert, and his company, One Plus Holding Limited faced charges from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly receiving $40 million from the Office of the former National Security Adviser [NSA], Col. Sambo Dasuki and converting same for personal use. [16] However, he was later discharged and acquitted by a Federal High Court in Abuja. [17] [18]
The case began on June 7, 2016 with Robert and his wife being prosecuted and granted bail of N500million, after they pleading not guilty. [19] The prosecution presented ten witnesses and various documents to support their case by January 23, 2017. On March 18, 2018, Robert's counsel filed a no-case submission, resulting in the court dismissing two out of the nine charges against him and excluding his wife from the case. [20]
According to the Nigerian Tribune, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court in Abuja, delivered the case that the EFCC failed to provide enough evidence for the money laundering charge against him for receiving money from Sambo Mohammed Dasuki without any contract agreement. [21] The case was later transferred to the Nigerian Court of Appeal, where a three-person panel led by Justice Stephen Adah decided that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendants. [22]
Delta State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta—a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State on August 27, 1991. Bordered on the north by Edo State, the east by Anambra and Rivers States, and the south by Bayelsa State, while to the west is the Bight of Benin which covers about 160 kilometres of the state's coastline. The State was initially created with 12 local government areas in 1991 which was later extended to 19 and now has 25 local government areas. Asaba as its state capital is located along the River Niger on the northeastern end of the State, while the state's economic centre is the twin cities of Warri and Uvwie.
Niger is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria and the largest state in the country by area. Niger state has three political zones, zone A, B and C. The state's capital is at Minna. Other major cities are Bida, Kontagora and Suleja. It was formed in 1976 when the then North-Western State was divided into Niger State and Sokoto State. It is home to Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, two of Nigeria's former military rulers. The Nupe, Gbagyi, Kamuku, Kambari, Gungawa, Hun-Saare, Hausa and Koro form the majority of numerous indigenous tribes of Niger State.
The Nun River, also known as Rio Nun, is a river in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The river is formed when the Niger River splits into two at Toru-Abubou, near Agbere Town in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, forming the Nun and the Forcados rivers.
Bayelsa is a state in the South South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State, making it one of the newest states in the federation. The capital, Yenagoa, is susceptible to high risk of annual flooding. It shares a boundary with Rivers State to the east and Delta State to the north across the Niger River for 17 km and the Forçados River for 198 km, with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean dominating its southern borders. It has a total area of 10,773 square kilometres (4,159 sq mi). The state comprises eight local government areas: Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Yenagoa, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama, Brass and Southern Ijaw. The state is the smallest in Nigeria by population as of the 2006 census. Being in the Niger Delta, Bayelsa State has a riverine and estuarine setting, with bodies of water within the state preventing the development of significant road infrastructure.
The Odi massacre was an attack carried out on November 20, 1999, by the Nigerian Armed Forces against the predominantly Ijaw town of Odi in Bayelsa State. The attack came in the context of an ongoing conflict in the Niger Delta over indigenous rights to oil resources and environmental protection. It is estimated that over 900 civilians were killed in the attack.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is a decentralised militant group in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. MEND's actions – including sabotage, theft, property destruction, guerrilla warfare, and kidnapping – are part of the broader conflict in the Niger Delta and reduced Nigeria's oil production by 33% between 2006-07.
Environmental issues in the Niger Delta are caused by its petroleum industry. The delta covers 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi) within wetlands of 70,000 km2 (27,000 sq mi) formed primarily by sediment deposition. Home to 20 million people and 40 different ethnic groups, this floodplain makes up 7.5% of Nigeria's total land mass. It is the largest wetland and maintains the third-largest drainage basin in Africa. The Delta's environment can be broken down into four ecological zones: coastal barrier islands, mangrove swamp forests, freshwater swamps, and lowland rainforests. Fishing and farming are the main sources of livelihoods for majority of her residents.
Timipre Marlin Sylva is a Nigerian politician who served as the minister of state for Petroleum Resources of Nigeria from 2019 to 2023. He previously served as governor of Bayelsa State from 2007 to 2012.
Heineken Lokpobiri is a Nigerian politician who is the minister of state for Petroleum Resources (Oil). He previously served as minister of state for Agriculture and Rural Development from 2015 to 2019, and as Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District from 2007 to 2015. He is a former speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is one of the Federal Ministries of Nigeria. It focuses on the infrastructural development, environmental protection and empowerment of youths in the oil rich Niger Delta region.
Melford Obiene Okilo had a long and distinguished career as a politician in Nigeria from the start of independence in 1960 until shortly before his death in 2008. He was a member of parliament (1956–1964) and a Minister in the Nigerian First Republic. He was the first elected Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria (1979–1983) during the Nigerian Second Republic. Later he was Senator for Bayelsa East, in Bayelsa State (1999–2003) during the Nigerian Fourth Republic.
Lt. Colonel (retired) Paul Edor Obi was Administrator of Bayelsa State, Nigeria from July 1998 to May 1999 during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa, OFR is a Nigerian judge and former President of the Nigerian courts of appeal.
The $2 billion arms deal or Dasukigate is an arms procurement deal in Nigeria that resulted in the embezzlement of $2 billion through the office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of Colonel Sambo Dasuki, the former National Security Adviser. The illegal deal was revealed following an interim report of the presidential investigations committee on arms procurement under the Goodluck Jonathan administration. The committee report showed an extra-budgetary spending to the tune of N643.8 billion and an additional spending of about $2.2 billion in the foreign currency component under the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Peter Onyeluka Nwaoboshi is a Nigerian politician. He is the senator representing Delta North senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate. He is a senator of the 8th and 9th National Assembly. He was sacked shortly after being announced senator elect during the 2019 general elections by a Federal High Court in Abuja as Senator-elect on allegations that he was not validly elected by his political party. The Appeal Court in Abuja however overturned the decision on 30 May 2019. The lead judge held that the Federal High Court that nullified his election had no jurisdiction over the case.
Biobarakuma Wangagha Degi Eremienyo, is a Nigerian politician and the senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district of Bayelsa State at the 9th National Assembly. In 2019, he was appointed the vice chairman senate committee on gas resources and vice chairman senate committee on special duties.
The 2019 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election occurred on 16 November 2019, the APC nominee David Lyon won the election, defeating Douye Diri of the PDP.
Samuel Gowon Edoumiekumo was a Nigerian professor of Economics who was the former deputy Vice Chancellor of Niger Delta University and the 4th substantive Vice Chancellor of same school.
The 2022 Nigeria floods affected many parts of the country. From the Federal Government Data, the floods had displaced over 1.4 million people, killed over 603 people, and injured more than 2,400 persons. About 82,035 houses had been damaged, and 332,327 hectares of land had also been affected.