A group, the Transparency In Petroleum Exploration and Development Initiative (TIPEDI ) has rose in defence of the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content ,Development, Monitoring Board (MCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, over an allegedly sponsored smear campaign on the ongoing libel suit filed against the publisher of Point Blank, Jackson Udeh in a law Court in the United States.
According to TIPEDI, though the decision of Engr. Simbi Wabote to approach a competent court over the allege libel against his person should have been commended, those behind the sponsored smear campaign are out to dent his years of impeccable character and high moral standing.
Comrade Derek Igho, the Director, Field Operations of TIPEDI, in a statement issued in Yenagoa, warned that those behind the allege smear campaign should steer clear and allow Engr. Simbi Wabote to focus on the good work he is doing for the Country.
Igho said, “Unfortunately, those bent on bringing him down are relentless and implacable. However, we in TIPEDI can say with all amount of confidence that the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, who seem to be their main target now, is a man of impeccable character and high moral standing. A technocrat, who is well known within the oil and gas industry for his operational philosophy of transparency, accountability and zero tolerance for wastes.
“From our investigations, it has become clear that the entire campaign of calumny against Engr. Simbi Wabote is being orchestrated by forces that are no longer comfortable with his many achievements as Executive Secretary of the Local Content Board.
“Any right thinking person, will rather commend Engr. Wabote for resorting to legal means to seek redress for the unwarranted, frivolous and libelous allegations that were made against him by Jackson Ude.
“As an independent group, TIPEDI has been closely monitoring the Case in the US and we know that several motions filed by Jackson Ude’s lawyers at the Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, USA, have failed as the trial Judge had ruled against them. The last of which was on December 22nd when the Judge gave them deadline of January 4th 2022 to file their “Dispositive Response” which they had been delaying.
“It is therefore, obvious that with the ongoing Libel suit against Jackson Ude in the US not going well for him, there is no more hiding place. So, rather than focusing on proving their allegations in Court, they have resorted to their well-known tactic of spreading lies on Social Media, all in their desperate bid to portray Engr. Simbi Wabote in negative light before the public”.
“Our advice to the general public is to continue to disregard all the rubbish that are being spread by those that are always willing to be used in destroying innocent Nigerians, whose only crime is to serve Nigeria diligently in whatever area they find themselves.”