NNPC Probe: There Will Be No Cover Up – Saraki

The Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has assured Nigerians that there will be no cover up in the probe by the Upper Legislative’s Ad hoc Committee that is probing the alleged diversion of the dividend from the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

THE WHISTLER reports that the alleged diversion was to defray the cost of under-recovery in the importation of fuel.

Headed by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, the Committee is probing the issue of illegal payment of subsidy on fuel.

In her motion, which led to the probe, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, had claimed that a lot of illegal and unapproved spendings were going on in the Corporation.

Ahead of the Red Chambers’ resumption on Tuesday, Saraki disclosed that he had received series of telephone calls on the issue by many concerned Nigerians and others who wanted to know the position of the Senate on the issues raised by the NNPC’s Group Managing Director (GMD), Maikanti Baru, before the Committee.

“Let me assure Nigerians that there will be no cover up. We are confident that the Ad hoc Committee will do a thorough job. All the issues will be unearthed. That is why when the Senate set up investigative committees on issues, we want Nigerians to have confidence in us that we do not act because we want to embark on a wild goose chase. There must be some serious issues to be looked into. The revelations by the NNPC’s GMD have justified the need for this investigation and they have shown that we are acting in good faith.

“When in my ruling on the motion raised by Senator Olujimi, I insisted that we want a transparent, honest and non-partisan investigation on the fuel subsidy issue, it was clear to me and my colleagues that there are certain irregularities being perpetrated and we should let Nigerians know the truth. That is why we set up the Committee in the first place and to demonstrate the seriousness we attach to the issue, we decided that the Ad hoc Committee should be led by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan.

“We are, however, shocked that the NNPC’s GMD was claiming that the illegal diversion of dividends from the NLNG, which should be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federation for the purpose of funding the fuel subsidy, was done ‘in compliance with the National Assembly directive that NNPC, as the supplier of last resort, should, and has, maintained robust petrol supply’.

“So, if the National Assembly called on NNPC to carry out its legitimate duty of ensuring adequate fuel supply to Nigerians, the GMD logically thinks the Corporation, by that call, has the license to perpetrate illegality, spend money without approval and violate appropriation laws. It is my belief that, if the National Assembly said the Corporation should perform its duty effectively as a supplier of fuel to Nigerians without exposing people to needless suffering, that ought to be done within the ambit of the law.

“This investigation will require the GMD to produce the approval given by the National Assembly and other necessary approving bodies authorising the NNPC to divert the dividend from the NLNG investment, which ought to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund belonging to the three tiers of government, for the payment of fuel subsidy,” he stated.