Who is Afraid of Reps’ Oil Sector Forensic Investigation?

Apparently worried by the woes of the Nigerian Petroleum Downstream sector driven by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the House of Representatives via a motion resolved to conduct a legislative forensic investigation into the resurgence of fuel queues in petrol stations, allegations of high cost of PMS, unavailability of fuel stock for downstream domestic refineries, among others.

The House Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and (Midstream) chaired by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and Henry Hon. Okogie saddled with the responsibility were also mandated to carryout a legislative forensic investigation into the presence of middlemen in trading, indiscriminate issuance of licenses, unavailability of laboratories to check adulterated products, influx of adulterated products into the country, allegation of non domestication of profits realised from crude marketing sales in local banks, as well as other anomalies.

The House equally directed the panels to conduct a legislative forensic probe into the allegation of importation of substandard products and high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria, sale of petroleum products below fair market value and its impact on downstream and local refineries and as the source of funds for such interventions, amongst others and report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.

At the inauguration of the joint committee given the task in Abuja on July 22, Speaker of the House, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen reiterated the Green Chamber was investigating importation of adulterated petroleum products into country; the difficulties of domestic refiners in accessing crude oil feedstock and the broader threats those issues pose to Nigeria’s energy security.

The Co-chairmen of the joint investigative committee; Hon. Ugochinyere (Downstream) and Hon. Okojie (Midstream) called on all stakeholders to provide comprehensive support, including essential information and documentation; urged refinery operators, importers, producers, and marketers of petroleum products to share their complaints, suggestions, and independent facts.

The Lawmakers disclosed that letters of invitation for paper submissions and appearances had been dispatched to key stakeholders, including the Minister for Petroleum (Oil), the management of NNPCL, the GCEO Mele Kyari, Executive Vice President Downstream, and Authority Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Operations Officers, and their lab heads or testing partners; IPMAN, PETROAN, NUPRC CEO, independent oil producers, international oil companies (IOCs), importers, marketers, and depot owners.

But just when the investigation had begun, it appears that the NNPCL and some relevant stakeholders are scared of the exercise which is intended to be a launch pad for building a truly national oil company of our dreams where efficiency, transparency and commercial viability reign supreme.

It is worthy to note that there have been suggestions from critical stakeholders including Civil Society Organisations and Lawmakers to give way for a seamless exercise, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, and the Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed right under whose nose those alleged malpractices were being perpetrated, should step aside pending investigation.

But the fears of those who made these suggestions are already manifesting as there is already a campaign of calumny targeted at the joint committee and by extension the good intention of the House of Representatives, to discredit the forensic investigation even before it goes full swing, which implied someone, some persons or institutions are afraid of the outcome of the probe.

While one would have been less concerned if such was coming from faceless groups who are, and have being usually used for such hatchets jobs, it worrisome that such sinister moves are emanating from members of the House of Representatives.

It is quite curious that it all began with Hon. Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo), the lead sponsor of the motion which paved the way for the forensic probe led purported 49 lawmakers including him making 50 to fault calls for the removal of Kyari and Ahmed pending the investigation.

The so called 50 lawmakers under the auspices of Concerned Members as the name implied were concerned with Kyari and Ahmed remaining in office on Thursday, Day one of the nationwide protests against bad governance caused majorly by the dwindling fortunes of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, the backbone of the nation’s economy.

“Our attention has been drawn to some media reports calling for the removal of the group chief executive officer of the NNPCL and the chief executive officer of NMDPRA while investigation is still subsisting. We wish to state that it is in the parliamentary culture to afford parties in investigation the right for fair hearing. Therefore, the call for removal of anyone while investigation is pending is premature, Osawaru had said.

He was obviously countering his co-sponsor of the motion for the forensic audit, Hon. Hon.Philip Agbese (APC, Benue) who earlier issued a statement urging President Bola Tinubu to immediately dismiss Kyari and Ahmed whose “competence” was stifling the growth of the economy due to crisis in the oil sector.

The self acclaimed Benin Chief who was leading a press conference in Abuja to protect Kyari and Ahmed when Benin was boiling with protest, was also out to antagonise his fifteen lawmakers colleagues under the aegis of The Economy Rescue Group led by his Edo kinsman, Hon.Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency) who equally called for the resignation of Kyari.

Curiously and surprisingly too, another group of lawmakers numbering 120 under the ageis of ‘1 AGENDA’ sponsored a full page coloured Advertorial in National Dailies in defence of Kyari and Ahmed on Saturday, Day Three of nationwide protests when their defenceless Constituents were demonstrating violently over HUNGER!

The Advertorial Reads:

NNPCL: A CALL FOR CAUTION

“1 AGENDA has noted a recent publication attributable to a member, which calls for the resignation of the GCEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the ACE of the Nigerian Midestream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). We want to clarify that this statement reflects a personal opinion and not the position of the House of Representatives.

“As members of 1 AGENDA, we wish to state the following unequivocally:

1. The GCEO is entitled to a fair hearing, and the House has responsibly constituted a committee to investigate the activities of NNPCL. This is not only right but a constitutional entitlement.

2. Therefore, any call for resignation at this stage is both unnecessary and premature.

3. However, the NNPCL is encouraged to embark on measures that will boost its fortunes and guarantee
the country’s self sufficiency in oil and gas production.

4. We urge the general public to disregard the publication in question and to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to reform the oil and gas benefit of all Nigerians.”

Nigerians should be prepared to see more of these desperate and dishonourable moves even from honourable members in the days ahead as the forensic probe ensues.

The committee has assured all stakeholders of fairness and transparency. The issue of step down or not is not on the committee’s agenda from all their engagement so far, the plot to stop the probe can’t work as that will dent the image of the People’s house that is committed to helping President Tinubu reform the oil sector and increase revenue to help stabilise governance and reduce poverty

But the yet to be answered question is: “Who is afraid of Reps’ forensic investigation?”

Ebere Okereke writes from Rivers