NNPCL investigation: Why Reps Speaker dissolved Ikenga Ugochinyere panel
By Emma Ogbuehi
Fresh facts have emerged on why the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, dissolved the Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other energy security issues.
Recall that the oil sector regulatory body, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, had accused Dangote Refinery of refining petroleum products with high sulfur, a development that made the lower legislative chamber to intervene.
The lawmakers, consequently, set up a joint committee investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other energy security issues.
But two weeks after inaugurating the committee, Speaker Abbas dissolved it, following allegation of hijack and other irregularities.
In statement announcing the dissolution, the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, said the decision was taken at the committee’s inauguration penultimate Monday.
According to Akin, a new ad-hoc committee would be constituted.
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He said, “The Leadership of the House of Representatives has resolved to dissolve the current ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee.
“Initially tasked with investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues, this committee will be succeeded by a newly constituted ad-hoc committee with the same mandate.”
“To ensure the efficacy and independence of this investigation, the new committee will consist of honourable members selected for their expertise, competence, and integrity.
“The House remains committed to addressing these vital issues and ensuring thorough oversight. Further details on the new committee’s operations will be provided in due course,” Mr Akin added.
However, it was gathered that the committee was dissolved following allegations of high-handedness of the co-chairman of the committee, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, who is the chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (downstream).
It was gathered that Ugochinyere had allegedly hijacked the committee, including singly signing documents that ought to have been jointly signed by both chairmen.
According to sources, trouble began when Ugochinyere allegedly asked the committee members to halt the process of NNPCL going to the open market to source for funding of $2 billion and thereafter convene a press conference.
This move was resisted by a majority of the committee members who noted that such would be counterproductive as they do not have the facts of the matter.
They also kicked against any press conference or briefing, pending the time the joint committee starts its sitting, a move that didn’t go down well with Ugochinyers.
Our sources also disclosed that Ugochinyere went behind to lobby lawmakers to begin to send out press releases as well as shop for members to blackmail the House leadership into doing his bidding.
In a WhatsApp platform opened for the Committee, he was accused of being influenced by Dangote Refinery to take sides and was asked to step aside for a neutral person from the downstream to be co-chair, a move he resisted.
The members, it was gathered, were unhappy at the manner in which Ikenga had taken the investigation personally and pandering to Dangote refinery.
He was also accused of instigating 15 lawmakers to convene a press briefing, calling for the suspension of the management of NNPCL and NMDPRA, despite the joint committee chairman, Prince Okojie’s kicking against such moves.
This led to Okojie, his vice chairman and clerk writing to the Speaker to distance themselves from the statements made by the 15 lawmakers.
“You all should ask the members who went to Dangote refinery if what they said they were going for was what actually happened. Ask,” a lawmaker stated in the group.
It was also gathered that Okojie and the deputy chairmen resigned from the committee on Sunday night over Ikenga’s action of hijacking the entire process.
Some members of the committee who spoke in confidence also alleged that they were shielded from having access to NNPCL and other petroleum regulatory agencies.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, did not respond to the messages sent to him on the matter.