Reps reject panel’s report on Allison-Madueke, others
Allison-Madueke
THE House of Representatives yesterday rejected a report submitted to it by an ad hoc panel that investigated the alleged shady deals involving the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke and some oil companies.
The ad hoc committee had in its report made three recommendations that appeared to exonerate the former minister and the indicted firms.
The Ajibola Muraina-led committee was tasked by the Chamber to among others investigate and unravel the alleged shady deals involving Alison Madueke, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Ltd, Septa Energy Ltd and some other entities with respect to the Farm-out or Allocation of Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 4, 26, 30, 34, 38, 41 and 42 respectively.
However, members yesterday rejected the recommendations and blocked its adoption immediately a proposal to that effect was made by the presiding officer, Emeka Ihedioha.
At his first attempt, Ihedioha put the question as to whether the House should consider the report, and there was resounding nay voice votes, but apparently surprised and trying to persuade his colleagues, the Deputy Speaker repeated the question once again and got the same result.
The Committee had recommended that; “(i) That operators in the industry should deliberately encourage openness/transparency in their operations;
“(ii) That companies involved in the Petroleum Industry should be required to ensure timely dissemination of information regarding their transactions, especially those involving Government Agencies and Corporations as this would forestall suspicions and sentiments of having been cheated that are always bound to arise in circumstances where a section of the relevant stakeholders in the industry are left in doubt as to transactions in the industry,” and that;
“(iii) That a clean bill of health be given to all the parties involved in this transaction as the entire transaction conformed to all the applicable laws.
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9 Comments
This has been the bane of our political class for the longest time. That is, sweep everything under the rug and sit on it and for this reason all of them are emboldened to loot the treasury knowing that no serious investigation will be done. Impunity at it’s best and how do you get a looter to investigate another looter in the first instance?
..sit on it and demand payment for doing that from the executive directly, so that the increase of their allowance from N10billion to N150billion over time and indirectly through breaking all the laws with impunity…
What is exactly the role of Ihedioha in this saga?
I suggest that they investigate this “Ajibola Muraina-led committee.”
Who does not know that as far away as I am from NNPC, I can even smell the stench of corruption wafting across the atlantic over the swiss Alps and all the way to where those numbered accounts are hidden. In Vienna, things are more discrete and the world knows those hiding their monies in the vaults of those castles! They should be uncovered if it means reconstituting a new committee after the expiry of this session to allow a new start!
It is so sad that Leaders who we entrust the affair of this Nation can not tell us the truth, why did the former minister of petroleum was in hast to sign the JOA before the swearing in of President Buhari and even the handover ceremonies. the former pet minister should be investigated properly and the PENGASSAN EXECUTIVE in NPDC should be invited to know the truth
THE VERY TRUTH IS THAT FROM HEAD TO TOE THEY ARE ALL VERY ROTTEN AND IF THEY CAN NOT DO THE TIME, THEY MUST NOT DO THE CRIME. THE PDP IS THE PARTY THAT COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED AND DESTROYED NIGERIA, UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION HEADED BY GOODLUCK JONATHAN A PERSON WITH OUT ANY CLUE, VISION, PLAN AND ABOVE ALL VERY UNPREPARED FOR THE POSITION HE OCCUPIED. HE HEADED THE MOST CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION IN THE HISTORY OF NIGERIA. GOODLUCK JONATHAN NOT ONLY INSTITUTIONALISED VERY MASSIVE CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA, BUT MADE IS A WAY OF LIFE, NORM, ETHOS AND VERY FASHIONABLE IN POLITY. HOW THE MASSES TOLERATED THIS BARE FACED, PAROCHAIL AND TONE COAT POLITICAL SHENANIGAN FOR SO LONG IS VERY BAFFLING TO ANY REASONABLE PERSON.
your analysis is dead on, the masses (90% of Nigerians live on less $2 a day and 70% lives on less than $1 a day) than were victims and remain so until the change mandate (which thankfully is based on a credible election made possible by the educated-class in Nigeria joining forces with the masses) goes to work, fish out and contain the poisonous baits that are everywhere in the system…this will take some time. We the people should continue the oversight function to see that the change mandate does what we asked it to do – this is way too important to live to politicians, our survival as a people and a country depend on it!
The problem with Nigerians is that an accused is adjudged guilty before investigation . If the reps have facts contrary to the finding of the committee why didn’t they table it. The whole matter is a hate campaign . Why set a panel if you already had the conclusion .
Asuk, we should avoid sentiments in this season of change. While government officials should not be witch hunted, they must be made accountable for their actions and if found wanting must pay the price for their illegality. The report was rejected, fine, the onus is on the house to go ahead and provide reasons, without that the report remains. Nigerian should move from ethnics bia and the like to move forward. Irrespective of where anyone comes from, once law is broken, rule of law must apply. A situation where a thief is shielded by his kinsmen is a sad commentary and shows Nigeria will never change, I mean never. We have had the case of Oduah, Ibori where their kinsmen protested though they dealt inappropriately, stole money and corrupt. Where I live outside of Nigeria, whoever you may be, law applies across the board. Just allegation of fraud in FIFA, Sept Blatter just resigned yesterday. We need to move forward and change our thinking, otherwise we continue to encourage impunity, consequently, there is no future for the coming generation.
The oil and gas sector has need transparency and accountability for decades. Reps keep blaming the minister for the industry’s failings but then turn around and reject any measure that would improve it. To me, they seem perfectly happy with the status quo and Mrs Alison-Madueke is just a convenient scapegoat.
We will review and take appropriate action.