Ben Eguzozie, in Port Harcourt
Ibrahim Mai Deribe, former managing director of Cavendish Petroleum Ltd, has distanced himself from an online media statement with respect to Oil Mining Lease (OML) 110 purportedly originating from him as MD of the oil company, a position he had long ceased to be.
According to Mai Deribe, he never signed the statement in the capacity of managing director, did “not author any such statement in any capacity – personal or otherwise. I have also not caused another to write on my behalf neither have I had any just or probable cause to author such false, misleading and malicious statements with respect to the revoked OML 110.”
He said, “I had also ceased to be the Managing Director of Cavendish Petroleum for a long time; so, to attribute a statement from me in that capacity or otherwise should be seen for what it is – a disdainful, calculated attempt by unscrupulous agents to mislead, malign and impugn on my integrity and that of others so mentioned for whatever sinister reasons.”
The former oil company chief executive said, he completely dissociates himself from the false statement attributed to him, and subsequent malicious report published on some faceless online sites without any proof to back it up whatsoever.”
He described the statement as “highly libelous in its entirety.”
He said, the statements and report were not reflective of his opinion, thoughts or the true state of things based on the facts available.
The former oil chief said, “to the best of my knowledge, neither Cavendish Petroleum nor anyone associated with the company has authorized or caused the publication of the said false statements.”
He informed the public and other stakeholders in the oil industry, to discountenance the purported statement as malicious against the persons mentioned, false, misleading; and did not originate from him in any capacity.
He also, urged the unsuspecting public and all stakeholders to disregard the statement in its entirety; as he will not hesitate to pursue all legal means to prevent and protect his name and reputation from any further misuse and/or misrepresentation – in any capacity.
