Senate to probe N5.1trn NNPC fuel subsidy claims

THE Senate, on Tuesday, mandated its Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) to commence investigations into allegations that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) made subsidy claims amounting to about N5.1 trillion between 2006 and 2016.

The decision was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Senator Dino Melaye, which alleged that NNPC had through 51 per cent share of fuel imports refused to account for the said sum in 10 years.

In his motion entitled: “Discrepancies in subsidy payment and non-remittance of funds by the NNPC to the federation account,” Melaye expressed surprise that the NNPC had been left untouched even though it imported the lion’s share of fuel, while independent marketers who only imported 49 per cent were being prosecuted.

Senator Melaye had earlier on Tuesday raised a point of order to intimate the Senate of his intention to move the motion on Wednesday.

He said whereas the Federal Government had been probing independent oil marketers, whose allocation amounted to 49 per cent, the NNPC which accounted for 51 per cent of oil imports had not been investigated.

He said: “Surprisingly, you (Saraki) are one of those who raised the issue of subsidy in the seventh Senate. The Federal Government is prosecuting marketers and these marketers only constitute 49 per cent of imported refined products. The NNPC is responsible for the importation of 51 per cent.

“While we are prosecuting the independent marketers whose proceed from subsidy is about N3.83 trillion, NNPC collected a total of N5.1 trillion on subsidy and this has never been investigated.

“This has never been looked at and we are busy chasing independent marketers. The time to look at the books of NNPC as regards petroleum subsidy is now.

“We have taken the lead in the fight against corruption in this chamber and I want to say we must do everything within our powers to investigate and bring whoever is found wanting to book.”

After a brief debate on the motion, the Senate mandated its Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) to  comprehensively investigate the NNPC over its alleged subsidy claims of N5.1 trillion.

While ruling on the motion, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, told the committee that the Senate expected a holistic investigation into the mater.

“A situation where individuals do what they like and are not accountable to anybody should be stopped. The committee should do a thorough job and ensure that they get to the root of this issue. The thing borders on the issue of corruption which has been affecting the country negatively,” he said.

Also on Wednesday, Melaye told the Senate that some corrupt Nigerians now hide their loots in caskets and uncompleted buildings located in remote villages.

Melaye, who made revelation while moving a motion seeking a probe of subsidy claims by the NNPC, said  corrupt persons now bury their loot outside the prying eyes of Nigerians.

Melaye said: “Money is not accounted for and that might be the reason we now see petro-dollars buried in caskets and uncompleted buildings in remote villages in some parts of the country.”

In another development, Saraki has named his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the head of a Senate delegation to investigate recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

Other lawmakers named in the team included Senate Leader,  Ahmad Lawan; Chief Whip,  Olusola Adeyeye, Senator Stella Oduah, Senator Shehu Sani, who heads Local and Foreign Debts Committee, Shaaba Lafiaji and Magnus Abe from Rivers State.