Reps panel accuses NNPC of frustrating crude deals probe

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee set up by the parliament to investigate the alleged shady deals in the Refined Products Exchange Agreements (crude oil swap) has declared that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has allegedly conspired to deliberately frustrate its (panel) probe exercise.

Addressing newsmen yesterday, the Chairman of the Committee, Zakari Mohammed, who said it would not hesitate to issue a warrant against the corporation if by next Wednesday it failed to make the information it requested available, also named the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and the Crude Oil Department as other organizations it requested for information but were yet to make available to the panel, their submissions.

Hon Mohammed disclosed that the committee specifically requested for contract deeds, transfers and annual reports of revenue losses if any, among others.

His words; “We are having difficulties with the NNPC, the Crude Oil division and the PPMC and you are all aware pursuant to section 88 and 89 we have been empowered to expose corruption at the same time be able to straighten the books.

But as it appears, the NNPC is trying to subvert our investigation, we have written them a letter just like every other agency, those ones have responded, the NNPC hasn’t responded, the crude division and the PPMC also have not responded, and we wrote a remainder, they (NNPC) only responded tacitly on Tuesday, saying that they need more time.

“By their own commission, by Wednesday it will elapse, but we want to make it abundantly clear that the 8th Assembly would insist on protecting the rights of Nigerians.