Fresh Trouble For Azibapu As Second Aviation Beneficiary Claims Scholarship Saga Destroyed His Businesses And Investments

By Passman Akpos

YENAGOA, BAYELSA — The controversy surrounding the disputed aviation scholarship programme linked to prominent Bayelsa businessman Dr. Eruani Azibapu has taken a fresh turn, following emotional revelations by one of the programme’s beneficiaries, Yebei Ebilate, who insists that the monthly stipend paid to participants cannot compensate for the losses he allegedly suffered.

Responding to critics who have argued that beneficiaries were adequately compensated through a monthly payment of ₦205,000, Ebilate maintained that he was financially stable before joining the programme and had no reason to participate out of economic desperation.

According to him, he was pursuing a Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Benin while simultaneously managing several businesses, including a commercial tricycle operation in Yenagoa and a cattle trading venture that reportedly supplied livestock from northern Nigeria to Bayelsa State.

Ebilate claimed that these businesses enabled him to comfortably pay his school fees, maintain residences in both Yenagoa and Benin City, and support himself without difficulty.

He alleged that the situation changed after participants were instructed to suspend their personal engagements and commit fully to a probationary work arrangement connected to the scholarship programme.

According to him, the demanding work schedule made it impossible to effectively supervise his businesses, resulting in financial losses and the eventual collapse of operations he had spent years building.

“I wasn’t a destitute before we got this scholarship,” he stated. “My only crime was seeking a better future and opportunity.”

Ebilate further alleged that repeated assurances that overseas training would commence soon influenced major personal decisions, including giving up his rented accommodation and disposing of some personal belongings in preparation for an anticipated departure abroad.

He claimed that nearly two years later, the promised opportunity had not materialized, leaving him dependent on relatives and struggling to rebuild his life.

His comments come amid an ongoing legal dispute involving another beneficiary, Kariyai Daukoru, who has filed court actions challenging the circumstances surrounding the scholarship programme and its implementation.

The controversy has generated intense public debate across Bayelsa State, with supporters of the beneficiaries arguing that the issue extends beyond financial compensation and raises broader questions about accountability, transparency, and the management of youth empowerment initiatives.

Several individuals who identified themselves as former schoolmates and associates of Ebilate publicly defended his account, insisting that he was actively engaged in business ventures long before the scholarship programme commenced.

One supporter, Fandu Taribie, claimed that Ebilate was known among students of Niger Delta University for operating successful business ventures while studying Petroleum Engineering and urged stakeholders to address the grievances raised by the affected youths.

Others called for an amicable resolution, arguing that prolonged litigation and public disputes would not serve the interests of either side.

Some commentators also questioned previous public claims that hundreds of Bayelsa youths had benefited from training initiatives, demanding greater transparency regarding beneficiaries and programme outcomes.

Meanwhile, supporters of Daukoru and Ebilate continue to insist that substantial evidence exists to support their allegations and have urged relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter.

As of the time of filing this report, Dr. Eruani Azibapu and the Azikel Group had not publicly responded to the latest statements made by Ebilate. The businessman has previously challenged allegations made against him through legal channels.

The matter remains before the courts, and all parties are entitled to the presumption of innocence and a fair hearing until the legal proceedings are concluded.

The dispute continues to attract significant attention across Bayelsa and beyond, with many observers describing it as a test case for corporate accountability, scholarship administration, and youth empowerment programmes in Nigeria.