By NaijaonpointOnline
August 23, 2026
The 10th National Executive Council (NEC) of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has said its intervention in the ongoing dispute between Mr. Kariyai Daukoru and Dr. Azibapu Eruani, President of Azikel Group, is guided by facts, dialogue and the desire to prevent any Ijaw potential from being lost to the Nigerian justice system.
The IYC stated this in a briefing issued by its National Secretary, Barr. Ayebakuro Igbeta, Ph.D., who explained that the council had made several efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the dispute and secure the release of Kariyai from the Kuje Correctional Facility in Abuja.
According to the statement, the dispute involves pending legal matters relating to contract and criminal justice, with both sides also engaging in extensive exchanges on social media.
The IYC said President of the 10th NEC, Comr. Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete, made the matter one of his first priorities after assuming office on July 22, 2026.
It said Dr. Okotete contacted Dr. Eruani while he was outside the country and subsequently met with him three times after his return, as part of efforts to explore a negotiated settlement.
The council also disclosed that it intervened after learning of plans for a solidarity march by youths in support of Kariyai, as well as counter-demonstrations allegedly being planned by groups sympathetic to Dr. Eruani.
The IYC consequently directed the then leadership of its Central Zone and appealed to affiliated groups to suspend planned protests and demonstrations to create an atmosphere conducive to dialogue.
Eruani’s Position
The IYC said Dr. Eruani informed its leadership that he had no interest in keeping Kariyai in detention, but alleged that Kariyai’s activities on social media had damaged his reputation and business image.
According to the statement, Eruani maintained that Kariyai had instituted a civil case against him over an alleged breach of contract but subsequently engaged in what he described as social media attacks, stalking and defamatory publications, leading to the criminal proceedings.
The Azikel Group president was also said to have questioned the IYC’s intervention, arguing that Kariyai had family members, community leaders, chiefs and a traditional ruler who could intervene on his behalf.
The IYC said Eruani made it clear that he would only consider withdrawing the criminal matter if Kariyai demonstrated remorse and tendered a public apology through the same platforms where the alleged defamatory publications were made.
IYC Meets Governor Diri
The statement further revealed that the 10th NEC presented the matter to Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, during its maiden meeting with him and requested the state government’s intervention.
According to the IYC, Governor Diri expressed displeasure over the dispute and said he had only learned about aspects of the matter through social media.
The governor was quoted as saying that the dispute had not reached the stage where government intervention was necessary, urging Kariyai to explore family and community channels for reconciliation.
Diri also reportedly cautioned youths against relying on unverified information and using social media to escalate disputes.
The governor, according to the statement, questioned who required government protection from intimidation, noting that Kariyai had first instituted a civil action against Eruani before allegedly launching attacks against him and his company on social media.
IYC Visits Kariyai in Kuje
As part of its intervention, the IYC said Dr. Okotete led members of the 10th NEC to visit Kariyai at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja, on August 21.
The meeting, which reportedly lasted more than two hours, focused on the council’s efforts to secure Kariyai’s freedom while making it clear that the IYC was not attempting to interfere with his civil claim.
The council said it informed Kariyai that he could continue pursuing his civil case against Eruani and Azikel Group over his alleged ₦1.9 billion compensation claim, but urged him to consider an apology over the criminal allegations of cyberbullying, cyberstalking and criminal defamation in order to facilitate a possible withdrawal of the criminal case.
The IYC said it also offered to assist in ensuring that any apology was properly worded so as not to prejudice Kariyai’s civil case.
Kariyai Rejects Apology
However, according to the briefing, Kariyai rejected the proposal and maintained that he would not apologise to Eruani.
The IYC quoted him as saying that he was prepared to remain in detention rather than apologise, insisting that he had not cyberbullied or defamed Eruani and that the courts should determine the matter.
Kariyai reportedly maintained that he was responding to what he described as attacks originating from Eruani’s media team and expressed confidence that he would prevail in his legal battles.
He was also quoted as saying that he had studied relevant legal materials, including contract law and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, and that he remained determined to pursue his claims to their logical conclusion.
IYC: Parties Must Make Concessions
The 10th NEC said its findings showed that both parties had adopted firm positions.
While Eruani and Azikel Group were said to have made a public apology a condition for withdrawing the criminal case and entering further negotiations, Kariyai reportedly remained unwilling to apologise and insisted on pursuing his legal claims.
The council added that the Bayelsa State Government had also indicated that it would not intervene at this stage, insisting that available family, community and dialogue mechanisms should first be explored.
The IYC said its intervention was not aimed at taking sides but at preventing the dispute from further dividing the Ijaw community.
“Comr. Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete and the entire members of the 10th NEC are not resting on our oars in our efforts at looking for solutions,” the statement said, stressing that the council could not force either party into an agreement where concessions were not forthcoming.
The council said it would continue to pursue available alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, while respecting the rights of both parties to seek justice through the courts.
It added that the clarification was issued to provide the Ijaw public with what it described as the facts surrounding the council’s involvement and to counter what it called distorted narratives circulating on social media.