Senate wades into Kachikwu, Baru feud
The Senate yesterday resolved to investigate the allegations levelled against the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Maikanti Baru by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu.
Kachikwu had in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari leaked to the media on Tuesday accused Baru of “Insubordination, humiliating conducts and award of $25billion contract without following due process.”
The Senate probe was sequel to an additional prayer by Senator Kabir Marafa (APC, Zamfara) in a motion on the allegation of corruption against NNPC Trading sponsored by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo).
Anyanwu asked the Senate to constitute an ad-hoc committee to investigate the policy introduced by the current NNPC Trading Limited.
He said NNPC Trading limited, a business creation of the NNPC, is composed of, Duke Oil; Hyson/Carlson (JV);NAPOil(JV);andWestAfrica-Gas LTD (JV).
“Duke Oil was incorporated in 1989 in Panama and therefore, does not pay tax in Nigeria. It was specially registered to play a dominant role in the trading of petroleum products especially crude oil trade in the international oil market several years ago;
“The decision by the current GMD to allocate almost all products to Duke Oil, this is in addition to its automatic inclusion in the lifting of Crude Oil, Gas etc, which thus, made Duke oil a money spinning outfit that is accountable only to NNPC.
“Duke Oil remains the sole importer of AGO to PPMC and Retail, which it does through third party, since it cannot import by itself, this contributes in slowing the growth of our indigenous companies that are making giant strides in the sector,” he said.
Making the additional prayer, Marafa said “I think we cannot gloss over the happenings in the Press and possibly the whole of the week. So, instead of coming with another motion, I support completely the formation of the adhoc committee and as chairman of the standing committee overseeing NNPC Trading, we will be around to support them in whatever way.”
Marafa prayer was carried in addition to the probe of the activities of NNPC trading limited.
Senate President Bukola Saraki announced the constitution of a 9-man committee with Senator Aliyu Wamakko (APC,Sokoto) as the chairman.
Other members of the committee are Senator Tayo Alasoadura (APC,Ondo), Senator Kabir Marafa (APC,Zamfara), Senator Albert Bassey (PDP,Akwa Ibom), Senator Sam Anyanwu (PDP,Imo), Senator Ahmed Ogembe (PDP,Kogi), Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP,Enugu), Senator Rose Oko (PDP, Cross River) and Senator Baba Kaka Garbai (APC, Borno).