Baraza CEO pleads for understanding, states solutions to organization's challenges


The Chief Executive Officer of Baraza Multipurpose Cooperative Limited, Pastor Miebi Bribena, has called for understanding from members of the organization to enable it to commence payment.

Bribena, who made this known in a live interview monitored by our reporter, revealed that a reconciliation committee had been set up, and more than one thousand members have already been part of the process since last year.

"This process will continue from Friday 17th May, 2024 and it shall be held once every two weeks at Tamara Hall, Otiotio Junction Yenagoa," he said.

He warned members of Baraza to be wary of fraudsters who use his name or that of the cooperative to collect money.

According to him, no member is expected to pay any money before payment is made.

Bribena stated that, as promised, some assets shall be liquidated to commence initial payment even before he returns to Nigeria.

While soliciting the understanding of members to allow him return to Nigeria, he said “I will get one or two contracts, then I'll use the money realized from the contracts to make payment so we can all go on with our lives.”

He continued: "I'm very happy that for the past few days, some members who invested huge sums and who were aggrieved are calling me to know how we are going to solve this problem."

The Baraza boss, while admonishing members who have sued the cooperative to have a rethink, revealed that with over a hundred court cases against himself and the organization, "it will be so hard."

He stated that he will soon commence the sale of some of his assets in a bid to raise money for initial payment.

Bribena also commiserated with families of individuals who have lost their lives because of the issues bedevilling the cooperative, noting that payment will be made to their next of kin once it commences.

The clergyman disclosed how a notable political figure in Bayelsa State frustrated his efforts when he applied for a loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make payment "because of unfounded rumours that he was planning to contest the 2023 governorship election in Bayelsa."

While refuting the allegation that he's persecuting Becky Minaj and seizing properties because they are no longer in a relationship, he noted that "first of all, are you aware Feboke was arrested? Jude was arrested with other persons who were arrested on fraud and properties taken from them?

"Are you aware that Pastor Orji was arrested and he paid back some money back to Baraza? Are you aware some ICT boys, receipt writers and POS operators in Baraza were arrested?"

"All these were males, nobody shouted. Or were they arrested because I was a homosexual sleeping with Feboke and he later fell out of a relationship with me? So because a girl is involved now, we take it to relationship?

"When I come to business, there is no sentiment. My own son, seventeen years old, was invited by DSS and interrogated under supervision because he was a minor but he was interrogated.

"My own younger brother, Ebikela Bribena was interrogated, my cousin Emomotimi Bribena was interrogated, nobody made noise. Every Baraza property shall be recovered no matter the propaganda or blackmail."

Revealing more details about what transpired, he stated that "Becky went to court and said she doesn't know of any furniture in her father's house. She went to court and said she bought the generator herself and paid the supplier in bitcoin and dollars.

"They asked her who supplied you and she called the same supplier that Baraza uses and the supplier said Baraza paid him, see the account statement.

"Somebody who paid twenty million to Baraza and in three months got a forty million car. These are not my properties, so why bring propaganda about relationships? Anybody's property belonging to Baraza will be taken back.

"If my own son can be interrogated anybody else will be interrogated without fear or favour,” he said.