The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has summoned the Managing Director and management of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company over a petition alleging $ 72 million fraud.
The complaint was raised against Agip by a service company, De Coon Service Limited. Joined in the petition are Mele Kyari, Ali Zara, Ismailia Mohammed and Simbi Wabote.
In the petition obtained by The Guardian yesterday, De Coon Service Limited alleged that Agip, in collaboration with others, fraudulently withheld and diverted the sum of over $72 million belonging to it, and sought the House committee’s inquest into the matter.
According to the Letter of Summons/Hearing notice issued on June 10, 2024 and signed by the committee chairman, the affected parties are to appear before the committee on June 20 with a soft copy and 10 hard copies of their briefs on the matter.
The letter reads in part: “Whereas the above named petition is now pending before this Committee and the particulars aforesaid are hereby attached.
“And whereas the petition has been assigned to be heard by the Committee for determination, you are hereby require to note Section 88 and 89(C) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and appear in person before this Committee on Thursday, 20th June, 2024 at 2.00pm or so soon thereafter as the Committee shall direct.”
Those specifically listed for response in the matter are the NAOC Managing Director, Division Manager (Strategic Procurement, one Engr. Dan Jumbo, and four senior managers plus two retired staff of the company: Ronni Eronini and John Mpi).
Also invited for response is the Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation limited, six others, and two retired staff of the corporation; the Group CEO of OANDO Limited and one other management staff of the company.
The Chief Executive of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and a retired staff of the commission; the Managing Director of TOTAL E&P, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, as well as the Minister of Petroleum and the Permanent Secretary in the ministry are also invited to give response on the matter. The letter warned that any of the parties, who fails to attend the hearing, may bear the risk of having the matter determined in his/her absence.
