Coup rumours: NDDC denies arrest of its CEO
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has vehemently denied arrest, let alone detention, of its chief executive officer (CEO), Samuel Ogbuku, or any staff for that matter.
The name of the MD was dropped by a national publication in the heat of the wild rumours over alleged coup plot leading to arrest of 16 military officers.
The newspaper report mentioning name of the NDDC boss spread like wild fire in the oil region and shook the region to its foundations as may persons began calling any contacts they knew in the Commission.
On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, the NDDC advertised a big event at a place in Port Harcourt, and many uninvited persons sneaked to the place to hear more.
On the said day, Thursday, October 30, 2025, Ogbuku appeared life, taking photos with dignitaries. The photos went viral immediately, putting paid to the detention aspect, but many still said the arrest was real but that he may have been released for further investigation.
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Soon after the event, the NDDC issued a statement through their lawyers demanding a retraction and apology from two national newspapers.
The statement issued by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director, Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, said the Commission’s lawyers led by Ayodeji Adedipe SAN of Adedipe and Adedipe, has fired what it called a strongly worded letter demanding the offensive and false publication and tender an unreserved public apology.
The letter said the lawyers maintained that the publications falsely alleged that Ogbuku was arrested by military intelligence for allegedly co-sponsoring a failed coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The publication further claimed, without any factual or evidential basis, that Ogbuku transferred funds from NDDC contracts to finance an alleged coup plot. These allegations are entirely false, malicious, and defamatory.”
According to the letter, “Ogbuku categorically denies these baseless claims. He has not been arrested, invited, or interrogated by any authority in connection with any alleged coup plot or financial misconduct. The publication represents a gross violation of journalistic ethics, as no attempt was made to contact or verify the story with him or the NDDC before its release.
“This reckless and damaging report has caused Ogbuku and his family severe emotional distress, embarrassment, and reputational harm. Friends, associates, and colleagues have inundated him with calls expressing shock and concern over the false claims.
“Accordingly, through his legal representatives, Ogbuku has demanded the following: Immediate retraction of the defamatory publication from all their news platforms; and publication of a written apology in at least four national newspapers and five consecutive editions of the newspaper, including all associated online and social media platforms.”
The threat letter said failure to comply with the demands within seven days from the receipt of the legal notice would compel Ogbuku to institute both civil and criminal proceedings against the publication and its editors, pursuant to the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024) and other applicable laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The NDDC reiterated its commitment to the development of the Niger Delta region, the peace and stability of Nigeria, and to upholding the highest standards of transparency and accountability in public service.
The NDDC legal counsel was said to have stated: “We therefore urge members of the public to disregard the said false report in its entirety and rely only on verified information from the Commission’s official communication channels.”
