The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (MMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, yesterday shunned a probe of irregularities and alleged corruption in the NNPCL.
The probe, carried out by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee, headed by Hon. Abubakar Nalaraba is investigating the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of OVH Energy Marketing by the NNPCL.
At the commencement of hearing on Monday in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, both Federal Government establishments only sent representatives: the NNPCL sent its Executive Vice President (Downstream), Yemi Adetunji, while the NMDPRA was represented by Soji Soloye.
They said their CEOs could not attend the hearing because they were attending to other things.
When the ad hoc chairman enquired if Adetunji and Soloye could represent their principals at the probe, they said they could not.
Nalaraba said the development was unfortunate because the committee was far behind schedule in its assignment.
“This is an ad hoc committee on the need to investigate the irregularities and alleged corruption in the Nigerian energy security provider, the NNPC Limited, and the acquisition of OVH Energy Marketing.
“The House resolved to set up this ad hoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of OVH Energy by NNPCL and report within four weeks.
“…Unfortunately, we are far behind schedule, despite the extension of the House recess. We still feel the need to continue or to progress with this investigation,” he said.
The hearing dissolved into a closed-door session for the panel to decide an appropriate time for the CEOs to appear before it.
