Group warns of Abass-led 10th Reps losing integrity, if NNPCL rot investigation is compromised

The Energy Sector Reform Initiative
(ESRI) has warned that integrity of the Speaker Tajudeen Abbas-led House of Representatives will be rubbished if the Green Chamber bows to pressure from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to abort the forensic investigation of oil sector driven by the company.

The group in a statement made available to CAPITAL POST on Monday in Abuja, urged the Speaker and the House generally to reduce the pressure it is being put under by the NNPCL under the leadership of Mallam Mele Kyari which was using both financial inducement and blackmail to ensure the House played to its whims and caprices.

ESRI in a statement by its national coordinator Barr. Lawal Abu said the reputation of the House was already at stake as the already disenchanted Nigerians were keenly watching to see how the House of would renenaged on its resolve to conduct a forensic audit into the oil sector piloted NNPCL.

“The integrity of the House of Representatives led by the Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas, Ph.D has come under serious test by Nigerians who are waiting to see if the Green Chamber which they hold in high esteem for legislative activism will bow to pressure from the the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to abort the forensic investigation into the oil sector which they are keenly waiting its outcome.

“It is already in the public domain that the Kyari-led NNPCL as insensitive as it is not resting on its oars to cajole the House of Representatives into aborting or abandoning the planned investigation which if properly conducted heads will roll.

“We are already aware that the already known to settlement Kyari- NNPCL has budgeted billions of Nigeria to induced the lawmakers to either rescind its decision to conduct the forensic investigation or give the national oil company’s management a soft landing by not indicting it where it is find guilty but blame other stakeholders.

“As the Honourable Speaker already knows as Nigerians have, the NNPCL GCEO has already gotten as much as 120 members of the House who allegedly collected $5 million dollars to give confidence vote. If Kyari can get such a huge number with that amount less than half of what we reliably gathered has been budgeted for the project, he almost there.

“Mr Speaker who we believed reads at least leading National Dailies everyday might have seen how 120 of his members under the banner of 1AGENDA placed an advertorial aimed at protecting Kyari.

“The advertorial is reproduced here for attention of the Speaker thus:

“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.”

“It is now left for Rt Hon. Abbas to call his members to order or risked being going into history as the worst Speaker under whose leadership the House incurred such worst reputation of criminal and moral debase especially in the present mood of the country.”