OGONI: MOSOP-USA LEADER WANTS TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE OPUTA TRIBUNAL (HRVIC) 

JANUARY 29, 2001.

THE SECRETARY, HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATIONS INVESTIGATION COMMISSION (HRVIC) HON. JUSTICE CHUKWUDIFU OPUTA (HRVIC) PORT HARCOURT-RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA. 

C/O SENATOR DR. CYRUS NUNIEH.  

Hon.Justice Oputa, URGENT REQUEST TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATIONS INVESTIGATIONS COMMISSION (HRVIC). 

Please permit me to address you from the United States of America where I reside and work as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and as well champion the internationalization of the Ogoni struggles to various organizations and governments. I take this liberty because during your tenure as a justice on the Nigerian Supreme court, you introduced to our contemporary world the necessity to defend minority and human rights and have since resolved several conflicts to the greater happiness of mankind. 

It is as a result that President Obasanjo rightly assigned you to head the above mentioned commission. I salute your efforts. I have been following the tribunal in the press daily and I wish to draw your attention to the on-going investigation of the genocide of the 500,000 Ogoni people during the administrations of General Babangida and Abacha in particular when most of the atrocities were committed by the then Administrator of Rivers State- Colonel Dauda Komo who I have him on Video-taped record supervising the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists on Nov.10, 1995; and Colonel Paul Okuntimo who headed the dreaded Rivers State Internal Security Task Force that meted the worst inhumane punishment on innocent and defenceless Ogoni people. I have Video taped records now in my custody which must be used as exhibits against Colonel Dauda Komo directing Ken Saro-wiwa and his colleagues to the gallows where they were hung. Dauda Komo now appears to be denying ever- being present at the gallows nor supervised the hanging of the Ogoni Nine. While I will not repeat a lot of the atrocities meted on the Ogonis by Colonel Komo and Paul Okuntimo and their culprits which you have heard of by now, I must submit to you that, I have done all within my means to draw the case of the Ogoni struggles as I co-founded and registered MOSOP-USA in 1994 which strategically internationalized the struggle when Ken Saro-wiwa and other MOSOP leaders at home (Nigeria) were either in prison or driven underground. 

The international community were indeed very sympathetic to our cause. Articles appeared in virtually every reputable newspapers or magazine in the western world, articles written by journalists who visited Ogoni and given their independent assessment of the plights of the Ogoni people. Human Rights Watch(Africa), Amnesty International, The World Council of Churches, The Hague-based Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), GreenPeace International, International Pen and others have studied, monitored, and sent appeals to the then military juntas-all to no effect. The matter was also raised at both the British parliament, the U.S Congress, Swedish Parliament, Canadian parliament, to mention but a few and their views were well known to the Nigerian government following Ogoni representation to these various authorities. 

Although I have some satisfaction in the recognition of my efforts in the internationalization of the Ogoni struggles as I headed virtually all the Ogoni delegations that represented the Ogoni People, MOSOP and Ken Saro-Wiwa at the various international fora. Equally important, I represented Nigeria during the Pro-democracy era at various international fora with Nigerian elder-statesman, chief Anthony Enahoro to campaign against the military government of Nigeria. In fact, I have to state that the issue is not so much about myself rather it is about my people (Ogoni) who has, because of their international recognition suffered more, not less, repression from both the military and the pseudo-democratic Nigerian administration. 

I made the above points to caution your commission not to rush to any conclusion of your investigations in the case of human right abuses against the Ogoni people without having consultation with MOSOP-USA leadership that was at the frontline of the struggle hence the well-intention exercise seeking for truth, justice, restitution and reconciliation that you now embark on will become a mockery and a travesty of justice before the international community. You should not be surprised about "the Ogoni genocide" due to Modern Slave Trade that is supported by some European Governments, impeded the march of Nigeria, and indeed, black Africa, to true democracy as practised in civilised countries. 

In a true democratic set up with the right constitution, the Ogoni would have been adequately protected. With a military junta in power and with a pseudo-democratic set up as we presently have in Nigeria, huge profits of western countries are easily guaranteed, even though groups like the Ogoni become the victims of genocide. The resolution of the Ogoni conflict has wide implications beyond Nigeria; for the rights of indigenous peoples, and minority nationalities world-wide, democracy, morality, and capitalism and, I daresay, will require the application of the best and most committed minds. 

It is as a result of the above developments that I and at least three leading MOSOP activists in the USA will be willing to suspend our professional practice for a week to testify before your commission at Port Harcourt-Rivers State with the presence of Colonels Dauda Komo, Paul Okuntimo and Obi Omahi. We will be glad to assist as a matter of urgency to resolve the conflict which has developed between the Ogoni on the one hand, and the Oil companies and the rulers of Nigeria on the other hand. The World is watching seriously. Let us not miss this opportunity to resolve this conflict once and for all. I will be honoured to have your urgent reaction to this request. 

Yours sincerely, 

Nnule Mpeba, CMA. Co-founder and member, board of Directors, MOSOP-USA Deputy Secretary General-Southern Minority Fronts of Nigeria,USA. 

Nnule Mpeba,CMA, writes this article from Detroit, Michigan-USA. He is one of the co-founder of MOSOP-USA. He was a member of the MOSOP delegation that represented the Ogoni nation, MOSOP, and Ken Saro-wiwa at virtually all international fora when Ken Saro-wiwa and other MOSOP leaders were either in prison or driven underground. He is also the Deputy Secretary-General of the Southern Minority Fronts of Nigeria-USA. He can be reached by e-mail at nmpeba@hotmail.com.