The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the ‘alleged loss of over $2.4 billion in revenue from the illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil export in 2015, including all crude oil exports and sales by Nigeria from 2014 till date’, has summoned the Finance Minister, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, to provide details of the status of remittances into the federation account and the Whistle Blower Protection Bill before the House.
According to Independent Ng, the panel issued the summon on Tuesday at an investigative hearing on the subject matter. They also slammed “Oriental Energy Limited” with a one-week ultimatum. They are to provide all necessary details regarding its involvement in crude oil lifting. As well as the sales within the period under review.
Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Hon. Mark Gbillah, gave the ruling at the end of day one of the investigative hearing in Abuja.
Addressing participants and his colleagues at the hearing, Gbillah said the focus of the panel is on the alleged sale of crude in China. Majority of which was not remitted back to the federation account. As well as other related matters contained in the panel’s terms of reference.
“We are looking at the issues that have to do with allegations of 48 million of crude oil barrels sold in China. We are looking at the issue of crude oil export in general from Nigeria for the period under review. We are also looking at the whistleblower revelations and recoveries, which the Federal Government publicly declared that they have made recoveries.
“It’s unfortunate that the minister of finance is not here, the Attorney General of the Federation is not here.
“This is a formal request from the committee that they should appear before this committee because they have received formal invitation to do so. And a lot of what we have to investigate regards to whistleblower policy is saddled within the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General of the Federation.
“There are responses received from the Accountant General’s Office which shows that the minister of finance has been approving payments to whistleblowers in percentages at variance with the policy which says they should be paid.
cc: Independent Ng
