By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A human rights, community based and civil society organizations and individuals with an anti-corruption and openness in governance agenda across Nigeria known as the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership(CACOL) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asking it to investigate and possibly prosecute those involved in the upfront sale of Nigeria’s crude oil.
In the petition addressed to the EFCC Chairman which was signed by CACOL Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran, the organisation noted that recently, a cross section of the media reported a statement credited to the Minister of Finance, Olawale Edun that former President Muhammadu Buhari sold the nation’s crude oil upfront for two years, collected the proceeds, prompting the current administration to sell crude without collecting its value for money.
The human rights organisation also noted that the implications of this unholy act is evident now as it can be felt in different dimensions such as:
“Firstly, it has made some people especially those from whose region the oil is being extracted to become restive and threatening to disrupt the fragile peace being enjoyed in their region.
“Secondly, the upfront sale of crude oil is a major cause of the current administration’s problem as it had made the revenue hitherto generated from crude oil to dwindle. Hence, there is apparent shortfall in the available resources that could have been used to carry out developmental projects across the country.
“Moreover, most people are not attributing the current hardship being faced by the populace to the mismanagement and gross abuse of the trust and mandate given to the immediate past administration, but rather they felt it is as a result of the current administration’s incompetence and mediocrity that is causing the current economic and monetary impasse without looking at the root cause of the problem.
“We also want to believe that the upfront sale of crude oil might just be a tip of the iceberg of what the Minister of Finance could reveal given political expediency. There may be more than meets the eye even in other sectors apart from the oil and gas sector.
“To this end, we hereby call for urgent investigation of this claim by the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy so as to unravel those behind the sale and inform Nigerians what the money was used for.
“CACOL, as you are aware, is an aggregate of human rights, community based and civil society organizations and individuals with an anti-corruption and openness in governance agenda across Nigeria. It is a non-political, non-religious, non-sectarian, non-profit organization.
“We are encouraged to submit this petition to you based on our resolve to always expose any corrupt act(s) being perpetrated by anyone either in public or private sphere.
We are also writing the petition with a view to guide the present administration and make them know that there is nothing they do that is totally shielded from public glare
“Furthermore, this petition is directed at your good offices, knowing that statutorily, it is the primary responsibility of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and prosecute this kind of cases and we have no doubt that you will do due diligence in carrying out this assignment for public good.
“We are thanking you for your anticipated cooperation, detailed investigation and diligent prosecution if need be. We would also urge you to please keep us posted about the progress being made on the case from time to time”.
