Reps to set up committee to investigate alleged N20b theft at NNPC
Despite debunking the news that money was missing from its vault, the House of Representatives has resolved to set up a committee to investigate the alleged theft of N20 billion by the staff of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
This was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance by a member from Kano State Hon Hafiz Kawu, at plenary.
Recall that NNPC Limited had on Tuesday debunked reports that it hired non-existent consultants, adding that the claims that N20 billion was missing from its vault was false.
The NNPC was reacting to a report published by an online media, “Sahara Reporters”, where it stated that the company paid the sum of N20 billion to non-existent consultants.The report also alleged that there was a theft of multi-billion Naira tax due, to the Ogun State government.
In a statement published on the NNPC’s Twitter handle, and signed by the Chief Corporate Communication Officer, Garba Deen Muhammed, the company stated that it does not deal with “ghost consultants.”
Muhammed said the process of engaging consultants at the NNPC LTD. was fair and verifiable, adding that it follows global best practices. He called on the publishers of Sahara Reporters to retract the publication and verify facts before publishing.
At a plenary on Wednesday, Kawu alleged that staff of NNPCL was reported to have diverted the funds under the guise of consultancy fees paid to its consultant Messrs Sapphire.
The funds according to him is part of the money meant for the payment of taxes to state governments by the corporation.
He expressed concern that at a time when the Nigerian government was doing its best to fight corruption and harnesses resources for the development of infrastructure, staff of an agency of government ought to be prudent in the utilization of state resources not to corruptly divert same.
“Staff of an agency of government ought to be prudent in the utility of state resources not to corruptly divert it. If no action is urgently taken by this hallow chamber to nip this unethical and unwholesome practice in the bud, it will negatively affect the budget of our nation as well as deprive other state government of its revenue,” Kawu said.
Adopting the motion, the house gave the committee four weeks for further legislative action.
