Confusion continues to rip through the house over dissolution of NNPCL probe committee as a $1.7 million allegation raises fresh furore
The controversy surrounding the dissolution of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating endemic corruption in Nigeria’s oil sector is far from over as lawmakers including the speaker, Tanjudeen Abbas, and deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, are allegedly at log ahead over a $1.7 million bribe allegation.
This is also as Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), chairman of the dissolved committee, has debunked some media reports that he offered the said money as bribe to the leadership of the house to retain the chairmanship of the committee.
The media is currently awash with accusations and counter-accusations on the issue as the house spokesperson, Rep. Rotimi Akin Jnr. (APC, Ekiti) on Wednesday restated parliament’s position on the dissolution of the committee, insisting it acted according to laid down rules and procedures.
Recall that the house, on Monday, August 5, announced the dissolution of the joint committee and that the assignment will now be carried out by another special ad hoc committee with persons of integrity and expertise. According to Rep. Rotimi Jr. the move was “to ensure the efficacy and independence of this investigation, the new committee will consist of honourable members selected for their expertise, competence, and integrity.
Reps spokesperson gives further clarification on sack of NNPCL probe committee
A day after his media statement, the house speakesperson has issued another seeking to clarify the reasons for the dissolution of the ad-hoc committee According to him, “the house of representatives has observed, with consternation, the speculations in some sections of the media following the dissolution of the ad-hoc committee on Oil and Gas by the leadership of the House. It is necessary to clarify that the action by the leadership was to ensure efficacy, independence, and effectiveness of the investigation.
“Appallingly, some people went to town with speculations regarding the action of the leadership, with some making allegations of a rift between the speaker and the deputy speaker, while others alleged that there was an inducement for the appointment of a committee chairman.” He further stated that the house has its internal mechanism of resolving issues and that its decision to dissolve the joint committee earlier was constitutional, citing “section 60 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that ‘subject to the provisions of this constitution, the senate or the house of representatives shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including the procedure for summoning and recess of the ouse.’ The leadership of the House reserves the right to disband/dissolve an ad hoc committee whenever the need arises.”
No inducement or rift between speaker, deputy…
Rep. Akin further stated that, “there is no rift whatsoever between the speaker and the deputy speaker regarding this or any matter; the duo enjoys a robust and cordial relationship. The two presiding officers also have mutual respect for each other, and will not allow anything to come between them. The public should therefore disregard the speculations making the round in some sections of the media.
“That at no time did the House leadership or anybody for that matter receive inducement for the appointment of any committee chairman. It was an assignment diligently executed by the selection committee of the house between June and July 2023, which has a member from each of the states of the federation.
Rep. Ugochinyere reacts
In a related development, chairman of the house downstream petroleum committee, who also headed the dissolved ad-committee, Rep. Ugochinyere issued a statement on Wednesday, August 7th 2024, debunking allegations that he gave $1.7 million to the house leadership to secure the committee position. He said: “The allegation is a belated nonsensical, childish and unprofessional fiction work aimed at creating division in the House to aide some criminal elements who are long over due for prison to think they can escape justice which is impossible as the demand for transparency and reform is a task that will be pushed.
“Only a childish mind will believe the poorly scripted work that speaker was given 1.7m dollars for something that is not worth a penny. We will not dignify the cheap attempt to distract and divert attention from the house investigation on the corruption from our oil industry.”
A bit about Ugochinyere
Rep. Ugochinyere, who is a first term member, has been immersed in several controversies in and out of the house in the last one year. He led the group of a so-called G-60 lawmakers that called for the resignation of the current acting national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagun, for allegedly plotting to destroy the party ahead of the 2027 elections. He currently leads a group supporting Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State in the latter’s political battle with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, and has on many occasions, addressed the press and issued press statements on the matter. In February 2024, he led a move against a report of an ad-hoc committee that investigated the acquisition of OVH assets by the NNPCL. The committee, then chaired by Rep. Abubakar Nalaraba, had presented a report, which was rejected by Mr Ugochinyere and his group and the investigation was subsequently referred to the joint committee headed by him.
NNPCL is at the heart of the crisis
OrderPaper recalls that there have been a wave of allegations and counter-allegations over calls for the removal of the chief executive of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari, and the dismissal of Mr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The calls sparked reactions as some members of the committee were accused of being involved in alleged corruption, extortion, blackmail, and sponsoring faceless groups and media attacks. They claimed that the lawmakers allegedly demanded a payment of ten million dollars under the guise of calling for the dismissal of the public officers.
Background of a controversial probe
Since the commencement of this NNPCL probe, the house been involved in one controversy or the other with lawmakers splitting into various groups and factions. The committee led by Rep. Ugochinyere, Rep. Philip Agbese (APC, Benue) were amongst those that initially called for the sack of Mr. Kyari. But another group of lawmakers has called for his retention in office.
Recall that the deputy speaker, on behalf of the speaker, inaugurated the joint ad-hoc committee while expressing concern over the resurgence of fuel queues at petrol stations, the increasing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and the unavailability of crude oil feedstock for domestic refineries.
The joint committee was tasked with investigating the quality and the number of laboratories that both the NMDPRA and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) use for their tests and to provide actionable feedback.
