Odili threatens court action over corruption charge

Ali had in his contribution during debate on the report of the Committee on Devolution of Power said that theft of public funds by Niger Delta leaders is the main problem bedeviling the region and not paucity of funds, stressing that a former Rivers State governor owns the biggest private hospital in Abuja.  “When we […]

Ali had in his contribution during debate on the report of the Committee on Devolution of Power said that theft of public funds by Niger Delta leaders is the main problem bedeviling the region and not paucity of funds, stressing that a former Rivers State governor owns the biggest private hospital in Abuja.  
“When we talk about Niger Delta, I believe I am closer to Niger Delta than most even from that area. I was the first journalist who received the late Isaac Adaka Boro and interviewed him when he moved to the Federal side from Biafra. Secondly, I was using office with late Saro Wiwa in Tejuosho, Lagos. We worked together…so I have great concerns.
“Also, I have worked with Chief Edwin Clark who was our minister in 1972 and I have been with him for the past 30 years, I know his concern and so on. But sir, as I am talking now, the biggest hospital owned by a private person in Abuja is being built by a former governor of Rivers State; he could have gone there (Niger Delta) to do better,” Sidi had said.
“I will not name names,” he insisted when the hall urged him to do so.
But Odili, who did not take kindly to the statement, said “there are many former governors of Rivers State here; but of all of them, I happen to be the only medical doctor and I stand here to say before this honourable house and before Almighty God that Doctor Peter Odili has nothing to do with this so called big hospital in Abuja which has been paraded and touted by Honourable Sidi Ali as belonging to a former governor of Rivers State.
“If he is sure of his facts, let him stand up and tell this distinguished house the name of the owner and prove that that name is the owner of that hospital. I challenge him to do so and I challenge every Nigerian who believes that allegation, otherwise I am going to my lord, with all due respect, take legal action against him.”
But conference chairman Justice Idris Kutigi appealed to Odili, saying “we will sort it out later.”