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Alleged N20bn Diversion: Reps Probe NNPCL Officers
The Home of Representatives, on Thursday, arrange an advert hoc committee to analyze the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted over the alleged diversion and conversion of N20bn by its officers within the guise of fee to consultants.
That is regardless of the NNPCL denying the allegation earlier on Monday.
The Deputy Chairman, Home Committee on Banking and Foreign money, Hafis Kawu, had moved a movement of pressing public significance, urging the chamber to probe into the alleged crime.
Shifting the movement titled ‘Pressing Have to Examine the Conversion of N20 Billion by Employees of the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Company(sic),’ Kawu partly stated, “The Home is knowledgeable that workers of the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Company are reported to have diverted the over N20bn within the guise of consultancy charges paid to its consultants.”
Kawu said that the alleged motion by the NNPCL officers breached Part 88(1) and (2) of the 1999 Structure, which, amongst different issues, makes it obligatory for the Nationwide Meeting to acceptable public funds earlier than they’re expended.
The lawmaker additionally said that the funds ought to have been spent on public wants.
Kawu referred to as for an pressing investigation of the matter and that the Home must be briefed on the result as a matter of urgency.
The lawmakers unanimously adopted the movement.
Speaker of the Home, Femi Gbajabiamila, consequently arrange a panel chaired by a member of the Peoples Democratic Social gathering from Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda, which was anticipated to show in its report inside three weeks.
NNPCL had on Monday evening stated it didn’t pay N20bn to ghost consultants as alleged by an internet medium (not The PUNCH).
An announcement issued by the Chief Company Communications Officer, NNPCL, Garba-Deen Muhammad, had partly learn, “NNPC Ltd learn with utmost dismay, a report by an internet platform alleging: paying the sum of N20bn to ghost consultants, and theft of multi-billion naira tax because of the Ogun State Authorities.
“NNPC Ltd needs to state that as a accountable company organisation, it doesn’t have or cope with ghost consultants. At NNPC Ltd, the method of participating consultants at any time when the necessity arises is evident and verifiable and follows world finest practices.
“It’s, due to this fact, unlucky that for no matter motive, the stated the web platform would make such a grievous allegation, senseless of the implications of such actions. The declare of a lacking N20bn is completely false and baseless”
The oil agency demanded that the web media platform ought to retract the stated publication, stressing that the going organisation ought to confirm its info earlier than going to the press.
NNPC stated the second part of the stated report was associated to Ogun State Authorities claiming a again responsibility tax legal responsibility of about N18bn, in opposition to an NNPC subsidiary, the Petroleum Merchandise Advertising and marketing Firm Ltd.
“For readability, PPMC had objected and challenged the declare by its tax marketing consultant. Consequently, the Ogun State Authorities took the matter to court docket which isn’t uncommon in enterprise circles.
“The matter is presently earlier than the court docket and NNPC Ltd will show its case accordingly.
“In conclusion, NNPC Ltd strongly advises the stated on-line publication to be aware of the implications of its actions earlier than taking them.
It said that for a matter that was already in court docket, as admitted by the web publication, it was unhappy that any medium may arrive at such subjudice conclusions as proven by its actions.
In the meantime, the Home has additionally mandated the Niger Delta Improvement Fee to “placed on maintain” the discharge of N15bn counterpart funding requested by the Federal Authorities, pending the approval of the Fee’s funds by the Home, as it’s a part of the loot recovered by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee on behalf of the Fee.
Moreover, the Home mandated its Committee on Niger Delta Improvement Fee to “scrutinise such requests made by the Federal Authorities and report again to the Home inside two weeks.”
The resolutions adopted the unanimous adoption of a movement of pressing public significance moved by a member of the Home, Unyime Idem, who can also be a member of the Peoples Democratic Social gathering from Akwa Ibom State, one of many states within the Niger Delta.
The movement was titled ‘An Pressing Name to the Niger Delta Improvement Fee to Placed on Maintain the Launch of N15 Billion Requested as Counterpart Funding of Humanitarian Intervention by the Federal Authorities.’
Idem, whereas transferring the movement, famous that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was inaugurated and commissioned by the Presidency to take care of intervention and humanitarian wants of the Niger Delta area of the nation and promote the bodily growth of the realm.
The lawmaker additionally famous that since its inauguration, the ministry had executed “elementary and necessary” humanitarian intervention tasks throughout the area.
Based on him, a part of the funds obtainable to be used by the NDDC is cash recovered on its behalf by EFCC and given again to the Fee to ease the implementation of its monetary obligations.
He stated, “The Home is cognisant that the Federal Authorities despatched a particular request mandating the Ministry of Niger Delta to collectively finance an intervention and humanitarian programme of sums operating into a number of billions of naira, utilizing the cash recovered by the EFCC with out budgetary provision.
“The Home can also be cognisant that the NDDC funds estimates for 2021, 2022 and 2023 are earlier than the Home for legislative approval.
“The Home is fearful that such request for intervention and humanitarian proposals by the Federal Authorities with out requisite monetary appropriation and approval by this honourable Home is against the law and a breach of the Appropriation Act.”
