•Directs EFCC, Police to arrest, prosecute purveyors
Udora Orizu in Abuja
The House of Representatives ad hoc committee that investigated the alleged missing of 48 million barrels of crude oil has said the claim was false and unsubstantiated.
It, therefore, asked the government not to waste taxpayers’ money to continue the investigation.
The committee known as, “Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate the Alleged Loss of over $2.4 Billion in Revenue from the Illegal Sale of 48 Million barrels of Crude Oil in 2015 Including Crude Oil Exports from 2014 to date,” chaired by Hon. Mark Gbillah, made the disclosure in its report that was laid and considered by the House at the committee of the whole yesterday.
The committee had over the weeks summoned and interacted with many government officials including immediate past attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), fingered in the allegation.
Laying the report, Gbillah, advised the National Assembly (Senate and the House), anti-graft and other agencies of government not to waste taxpayer’s funds on further future investigation of the allegations as they appeared to be completely fraudulent and unsubstantiated.
“The security and anti-graft agencies should be advised to prosecute any of the individuals who initially made these allegations if any one of them continues to peddle these false allegations after the committee’s investigation;
“The Abuja High court handling the case against the related individuals is advised to resume the hearing and prosecution of the case so justice can be meted out appropriately if any of the individuals are found culpable.
“Mr. Jackson Ude and Point Blank News should be advised to issue a public retraction of their publication of these allegations on their website and other media outlets considering the damage this publication has done to the reputation of related government officials and should strongly be admonished to be more circumspect in their future publications,” he added.
Similarly on the crude oil exports and sales by Nigeria from 2014 till date, the committee stated: “The committee recommends the continuation of a detailed investigation of all crude oil exports from Nigeria from 2011 till date involving all oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria who are involved in crude oil production and exportation and the detailed investigation of report of the consultants and legal team engaged by the federal government through NIMASA who identified loss of revenue to Nigeria from discrepancies in quantities of crude oil exports.
“House committee on petroleum resources (upstream) of the 10th assembly should prevail on the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority, Nigerian National Petroleum Company, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Index and other government related entities to explore the production of a harmonised, central and regularly updated record of Nigeria’s crude oil exports and proceeds and the committee should superintend the execution of same.
“A further investigation by related house committee in the 10th assembly should be conducted into the level of compliance to the payment of royalty and other related taxes by oil and gas companies including details of payments made to date.
“NEITI should be advised to provide its updated records of royalty and taxes paid in 2021 and 2022 and explore an efficient way to ensure its records are up to date considering its watchdog status.”
On other whistleblower findings, the committee also recommended that the federal government engage with the Indian government diplomatically to ensure the amicable resolution of the matter of the Sandesara brothers to avoid unnecessary friction in the relationship between both countries.
The committee recommended no further investigation into the issue against the NPA MD, “as these allegations appear to be premeditated.”
