$25B NNPC Contract: Why Probe Is Yet To Take Off

Thirty-eight days after the Senate resolved to investigate the alleged abuse of due process in the award of contracts worth $25b by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the investigation is yet to commence in earnest.

The only meeting held by the ad hoc committee investigating the matter was an inaugural one, which took place on October 24, 2017. That was exactly two weeks after it was constituted.

The four-week deadline given to the ad hoc committee by Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, when it was constituted expired over a week ago without a word from either the committee, or the Senate leadership.

Chairman of the committee who is a former Sokoto State governor, Aliu Wamakko, has refused to speak on the investigation.

But a member of the Committee and Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream, Senator Kabiru Marafa, (APC, Zamfara Central,) had tried to adduce reasons for the delayed probe.

According to Marafa, the committee could not start because the three chairmen of Senate Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream, Downstream and Gas) were all away with Saraki to attend a function in Russia.

However, Saraki and all those members returned to the country three weeks ago. Marafa also claimed that the search for a clerk for the ad hoc committee was also responsible for the delay in take-off.

Marafa had said: “ We had to wait for communication on the directive by the Senate to the committee. When the Senate sets up an ad hoc committee, there are some procedures the mandate has to pass through, including the appointment of a clerk, and provision of a secretariat. An ad hoc committee is different from a standing committee- a standing committee has everything in place, but an ad hoc committee does not.”

It would be recalled that the Senate had on October 4, announced the composition of a committee to carry out a holistic investigation into allegation of insubordination and abuse of due process leveled against the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Maikanti Baru, by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

The Senate had also resolved to investigate Kachikwu’s call for the cancellation of the recent appointments in the NNPC, just as it had resolved to carry out a probe into the finances and activities of the NNPC.

The decision to probe the allegations raised by Kachikwu against Baru was sequel to additional prayer by Senator Kabir Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central) during a discussion on a motion by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East) titled, “Allegation of Corruption against NNPC Trading: Time to Conduct a Holistic Investigation.”

Anyanwu’s prayer, which was taken by the Senators read, “Constitute an ad-hoc committee to Investigate the Policy Introduced by the Current NNPC Trading Limited.”

The Committee, which has Senator Aliyu Wamakko as chairman, also has senators Bassey Albert Akpan (PDP, Akwa Ibom North East); Tayo Alasoadura (APC, Ondo Central); Kabir Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central); Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East); Ahmed Ogembe (PDP, Kogi Central); Rose Oko (PDP, Cross River North); Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North), and Baba Kaka Garbai (APC, Borno Central) as members.

But checks around the Senate reveal that the committee might redirect its focus to its second terms of reference, which is the investigation of allegation of corruption against NNPC Trading Company.

The Trading Company comprises of Duke Oil (a subsidiary of the NNPC), Hyson/Carlson (JV), NAP Oil (JV); and West Africa-Gas LTD (JV).

After the Senate announced its decision to probe the alleged contracts, the Presidency came out to deny their existence.

That denial was followed by a curious suit instituted by an Abuja-based lawyer, Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, against the investigation at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, to restrain the Senate from inviting Baru over the allegations.

In his suit, Jideobi asked the court to set aside the October 4, 2017 proceedings of the Senate on the ground that its planned investigation was based on the contents of an unconfirmed document of doubtful origin.