Reps probe 23 oil firms not registered with CAC
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Federal lawmakers are trying to figure out how 23 oil firms not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) got linked to fuel subsidy payments that could have lasted eight years in the first instance.
The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate the Petroleum Products Subsidy Regime from 2013 to 2021 said it cannot trace the documents of the 23 oil and gas companies, which are trading in Nigeria.
The committee is investigating payments the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) – now Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) – made in the eight years for subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol.
Committee Chairman Ibrahim Aliyu said at the resumption of hearing that the firms have major serious questions to answer.
Aliyu read part of a letter the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) wrote in response to the committee’s request for the profile of the companies, which confirmed the firms have no record with the CAC as the law requires.
He said the committee would be forced to write to the embassies of the countries where the companies are based for information on them.
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Firms not registered with CAC
The letter from the CAC, dated 13 July 2022 with reference number RGO/SU/VOL.5/2022/0248, was signed by one Maimunat Hamu on behalf of the Registrar General, according to The PUNCH.
It reads: “Kindly refer to your letter Ref: NASS/QHR/AHC/PPSRIM1/1H/01/051 dated 1st July, 2022, on the subject matter above.
“Please be informed that we could not readily find information on the exact name of the following companies as provided in our record.
“Emadeb Consortium; Britania-U Nig. Limtted; Totsa Total Ol Tradings SA; Petroleum Trading Nigeria Limited; Mocoh S.A; Socer Worldwide; Calson Bermuda Ltd; Hyson; Litasco S.A; Mercuria Energy; Cepsa Lubricant; Trafigura Pte; Vitol S.A; Ocanbed Trading Limited; Bonno Energy; West Africa Gas Limited; Petrogas; Matrix; Masters Energy; Amg; Barbedos; Hindustan and Patermina.
“However, you may wish to provide the registration numbers or any other available documents at your disposal to enable us to investigate further.”
A previous letter from the CAC, dated 1 July 2022 with reference number NASS/9HR/AHC/PPSR/14/iH/01/051, listed some other oil firms under probe by the committee as follows:
- Heyden Petroleum Limited RC: 433175
- Graton Oil Limited RC: 644074
- Duke Oil and Gas Limited RC; 64456145
- Matrix Energy Limited RC: 612026
- MRS Companies Limited RC: 241,013
- Sahara Trade Nigeria Limited RC: 352,443
- Essar Exploration And Production Limited RC: 692910
- Sahara Group Limited RC: 668626
- Rainoil Limited RC: 257444
- Casiva Limited RC: 1091598
- Petroleum Trading and Supplies Company Limited RC: 506113
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