CCB moves to probe NNPC, Duke Oil’s complicity in importation of contaminated fuel

Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has expressed its preparedness to probe the alleged involvement of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and its subsidiary, Duke Oil, in the importation of contaminated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, into the country.

The decision of CCB was consequent upon a petition to its Chairman, Professor Mohammed Isah, dated February 22, 2022 and signed by the national coordinator, Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC), Mr Jator Adibo.

The CONCLAVE reports that the group in its petition wants the CCB to investigate the Group Manager of the Department of Petroleum Resources, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, Group Managing Director of the NNPC Ltd., Mr Mele Kyari and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.

The group said that if found wanton, these respective authorities should be charged before the Danladi Umar-chaired Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, with abuse of office.

When contacted on Monday in Abuja on whether the CCB was in receipt of such petition, a Federal Commissioner in charge of Monitoring, Hon. E.J. Agbonayinma, confirmed that the Bureau was in receipt of several petitions, adding that the NDYC’s petition was one of them.

The petition by NDYC reads: “I write to petition your office which has the statutory responsibility for handling cases of abuse of office by public and civil servants to investigate and sanction the Group Manager, Department of Petroleum Resources, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.

“This has become necessary owing to the importation and sale of contaminated Premium Motor Spirit to unsuspecting Nigerians and the monumental damage it has caused Nigerians.

“The impact of this act of wickedness has also created long and tiring queues in major cities, leading to waste of manhours and the inflation of the prices of products as well as other unwholesome criminal activities. These have exacerbated human suffering through hike in transportation fare, lateness to and from work to mention just but a few.

“The reasons for this sad occurrence notwithstanding, the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Company on whose watch this has happened must account for the negligence or connivance on his watch. Name calling and pointing of accusing fingers cannot undo the damage and suffering inflicted on Nigerians by this and several acts of gross misconduct that your office must investigate.

“We therefore urge you to summon the GMD, NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari and all heads of the aforementioned parastatals for a thorough investigation into the roles they have individually and collectively played in this unfortunate circumstance.

“Sir, NNPC awards importation contracts to companies fingered in this unfortunate incident are MRS, Emadeb Consortium, Brittania-U, Oando and Duke Oil. It will interest you that all but Duke Oil have written to dissociate themselves from the contaminated product.

“Duke Oil, NNPC’s trading arm, that is also engaged in the Direct-Sale-Direct Purchase arrangement with NNPC, has been mute about the alleged contamination. The silence and inability of the NNPC under Kyari to act accordingly and bring the management of Duke Oil to book is questionable. The law should compel NNPC and Duke Oil to account for and pay damages to Nigerians respectively.

“Chairman, Sir, there are agencies responsible for clearing and forwarding imported goods including petroleum products. The fact that these agencies and their personnel failed to do their jobs is a clear indication that something is wrong and must be investigated for the good of all Nigerians.

“We therefore call on your office to act fast and bring the collaborator and perpetrators of this evil act to justice to serve as deterrent to others. The law is the last recourse of the common man and we are sure you will oblige us.”

Hon. Agbonayinma said that the CCB was on top of all the petitions submitted to it for investigation.

Read his response: “Yes, we have a lot of petitions. It (NDYC’s petition) is one of them. The CCB is working despite poor funding and staff inadequacy. The Bureau is on top of the matter. The leadership of the CCB under the chairman of Prof Mohammed Isah is on top of the matter and we will not compromise our constitutional mandate.

“It is a serious matter that Nigerians are interested in. If anyone is found wanton, he or she would be charged to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT under the Chair of Danladi Umar.”

Agbonayinma stated that anybody that had stolen money would be dealt with, adding that “where it concerns us (members of the CCB), we will deal with the matter squarely.”

According to him: “Nigerians are suffering because some persons have failed to be accountable in doing their jobs. Somebody must be accountable for the sorry state in which we have found ourselves. Those who have ganged up to derail the wheel of progress of government should await the Judgment Day.”

Asked to comment on the likely complicity of Duke Oil in the bad fuel importation as alleged in the petition, Agbonayinma said: “To answer your question, because the petition is before us, it will not be right to speak on the subject matter in details. But those that were responsible for the importation of the bad fuel will be dealt with.

“We don’t care how highly-placed they are because somebody will be held responsible for this. But as I had earlier said, I will not go into details through this medium for now because the CCB does do investigation on the pages of the newspaper. Rest assured that we will do our due diligence in ensuring that the matter is properly investigated and dealt with to the satisfaction of the Nigerian people.”

He declared: “Anyone that decides to abuse his office by putting his personal interest above national interest will face the wrath of the law.”

Recall that the House of Representatives Committee (Downstream) had recently investigated the contaminated fuel importation, grilling in the process all the companies that the NNPC claimed to have done it.

But the House Committee report, which was submitted last week to the plenary, was rejected because the Committee was said to have done a shoddy job. In specific terms, the House observed that the report did not contain specific findings and recommended sanctions for those found to have been complicit and culpable.