ETI disowns statement against Agbese, throws weight behind lawmaker

The Energy Transparency Initiative (ETI) has disassociated itself from statements made by individuals falsely claiming to represent the group, criticising Hon. Philip Agbese, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Federal House of Representatives.

In a joint statement, ETI’s President and Secretary, Francis Nedu and Ismaila Bello, claimed that the individuals behind the statement had been expelled long ago due to fraudulent activities and other abuses that contravened the group’s objectives.

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“We are shocked and dismayed that these individuals would continue to impersonate ETI and make statements that do not reflect our values and mission,” the statement read. “Their actions are a clear attempt to blackmail and extort money from innocent parties, and we condemn their behaviour in the strongest terms.”

ETI’s leadership highlighted that some government agencies had allegedly released as much as $500,000 to the impostors to blackmail Agbese and other National Assembly members advocating for sanity in the oil and gas sector.

The statement expressed support for Agbese’s claims of deliberate attempts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to discredit the Dangote Refinery.

The group commended Agbese for his leadership and courage in “exposing the truth” and applauded his efforts to protect Nigerian entrepreneurs and promote indigenous businesses.

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“Agbese’s dedication to serving the people and upholding the principles of fairness and transparency is exemplary,” the statement added. “He has shown that he is a true representative of the people, and his actions have earned him the respect and admiration of many. We are proud to support him and stand by him in this matter.”

The ETI criticised NNPCL and NMDPRA for showing a bias towards International Oil Companies (IOCs) and consistently frustrating the efforts of Nigerian entrepreneurs.

“Their actions are a disservice to the nation and undermine the government’s efforts to promote indigenous businesses,” the group asserted.

Furthermore, ETI expressed support for the House of Representatives’ call for the resignation of NMDPRA’s CEO, Farouk Ahmed.

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“Agbese’s reiteration of the House’s earlier call for the NMDPRA boss to be sacked is the position of many Nigerians who mean well for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement said. “We believe that the dismissal of the NNPC Group CEO Mele Kyari is long overdue as well. The ETI calls on President Tinubu to take immediate action to address this issue and ensure that these regulatory agencies serve the interests of the nation, not just a select few.”

ETI also announced it had taken legal action against the impostors and involved law enforcement agencies to ensure they are brought to justice.

“We will not tolerate any attempts to impersonate our organization or make false statements that damage our reputation,” the statement noted. “We urge all stakeholders to remain vigilant and uphold the principles of fairness and transparency. We will continue to monitor developments and ensure that all actions and policies are aligned with the national interest, free from undue influence or partisan agendas.”