Connect with us

News and Report

Group Alleges Campaign of Calumny against MD, NNPC RETAIL

Published

on

The widespread publication of the purported arrest of the Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Retail, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been described as a campaign of calumny by some detractors who were envious of the giant strides and achievements of the Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue while she presided over the affairs of the Petroleum Products and Marketing Company (PPMC).
According to the Young Professional Alliance for Change, some mischief makers were uncomfortable of the strides recorded by Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue in the NNPC from her days as the General Manager, Board Matters and Management Committee Department (BMMC) in the Corporate Secretariat and Legal Division (CSLD) to the Petroleum Products and Marketing Company, (PPMC) which she headed before her latest promotion.
According to Mr. Chukwudi Ifediora, the General Secretary of the Group, Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue was invited by the EFCC to clarify certain operational issues which she promptly honored and was never arrested because she returned home after throwing light on the issue for which she was invited.
In his words, ‘’ Without doubt, Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue is one of the shining light of the NNPC and she was very conscious of her duties and discharged them creditably. In fact, she was appointed the Managing Director of PPMC based on her pedigree in NNPC.
The truth of the matter is that, she was invited and she naturally honored the invitation since she had nothing to hide. Moreover, she is one of the proponents of change in NNPC and her style of administration is still being spoken of in glowing terms in PPMC till tomorrow.’’
Addressing the allegation that Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue has acquired some property worth N1.2bn with the proceeds of corruption, the Young Professional Alliance for Change clarified that the said property was rented, a fact which is verifiable, adding that the value of the property was nowhere near the sum of N1.2 billion being bandied about by some detractors who were bent on bringing her down.

Buttressing the Group’s claim, a top stakeholder in the Petroleum sector who would not want to be named said that he was shocked at the allegations against the former MD PPMC.
He said that, ‘’ If you look at the expertise, professionalism and pedigree of Mrs. Nnamdi- Ogbue, you would agree with me that she was a right peg in a round hole. However, the challenge in Nigeria, like most Third world countries is that, some people would frown at you if you choose to be different. ‘’
He continued, ‘’She is a process-minded person and she brought this to fore in PPMC but some people never liked it. I am sure you are aware that she invited the EFCC to investigate the role of some stakeholders in the downstream sector of the Oil and Gas industry in the artificially induced fuel crisis late last year.’
‘’Naturally, these oil cabals resorted to maligning her in some section of the Media because of her unwavering stance on due process, probity and best practices in the conduct of the company’s businesses. Tell me, why would anyone want to blame her for the current fuel crisis when we, especially key players in the downstream sector know what is wrong with the system?‘’
He concluded, ‘’The fact that she has been recalled and made MD NNPC Retail has shown that the government believes in her capabilities and professionalism. I am sure she would never be deterred by detractors and mischief makers because she is focused on leaving her indelible imprints in the downstream sector.’’

Continue Reading
Advertisement

News and Report

Oando Clean Energy, Cross River State, Sign MoU on Renewable Energy Infrastructure

Published

on

By

Oando Clean Energy (OCEL),  the renewable energy business subsidiary of Oando Energy Resources and the Cross River State Government have  signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the rollout of electric vehicles for mass transportation within the state at the ongoing 28th edition Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The move in setting up an electric vehicle (EV) assembly plant, is expected to create jobs for local indigenes as well as build a 100MW wind plant for power generation.

Representing the Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu at the MoU signing was the state’s Commissioner for Special Duties, Oden Ewa, saying the landmark agreement marked a significant step forward in the state’s journey toward a cleaner and more sustainable future. He said: “The MoU paves the way for the transitioning of our mass transit system to cleaner and less expensive fuels while also allowing for the use of our natural resource, wind, to provide electrification for our people.

“I commend Oando Clean Energy for their innovative solutions that address the impact of climate change in Nigeria and her citizens.”

According to Oando , it said,  as  a company, it has committed to ensuring that this journey to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future is as seamless and as easy as possible.

“This is by putting our confidence in, not only the technology but the partnership and ensuring that the Cross River State government and her people reap the benefits of generating power from sustainable sources”. The statement read.

Oando’s Clean Energy’s scope spans the entire 35 states of the federation and the federal capital, promising to create a cleaner, more viable energy ecosystem for Nigeria and the  people of Cross River.

In attendance at the side event were amongst others, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh;  Minister of the Environment, Abbas Balarabe;  Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Kunle Salako; Commissioner for Special Duties, Cross River State, Mr. Oden Ewa, among others.

Continue Reading

News and Report

House Of Representatives Issues Warrant Of Arrest On Central Bank Governor, Cardoso, Accountant-General, 17 Others

Published

on

By

The House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Petitions has asked for a warrant of arrest to be issued on the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, and 17 others over refusal to appear before it to answer questions on their operations.

It was gathered that the issuance of the arrest warrant was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Fred Agbedi, representing Ekeremo/Sagbama Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the committee’s hearing on Tuesday.

Agbedi, while moving the motion, said that the arrest warrant had become imperative following the attitude of the invitees, adding that the parliament worked with time and the CEOs had been invited four times but failed to respond to the invitations.

Agbedi said that the CBN Governor, the AGF and the rest of the invitees should be brought to appear before the committee by the Inspector General of Police through a warrant of arrest after due diligence by the House Speaker, Rep Tajudeen Abbas.

The Chairman of the Committee, Micheal Irom (APC-Cross River), in his ruling said that the Inspector-General of Police should ensure the invitees were brought before the committee on December 14.
It was gathered that the petitioner, Fidelis Uzowanem, had earlier said that the petition was anchored on the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) 2021 report.

Irom said, “We took up the challenge to examine the report and discovered that what NEITI put together as a report is only consolidation of fraud that has been going on in the oil and gas industry.

“It dates back to 2016 because we have been following and we put up a petition to this committee to examine what has happened.

“The 2024 budget of 27.5 trillion that has been proposed can be confidently funded from the recoverable amount that we identified in the NEITI report.

“It is basically a concealment of illegal transactions that took place in NNPCL; they have been in a sink with some oil companies where some companies that did not produce crude were paid cash core, an amount paid for crude oil production.”

 

Continue Reading

News and Report

FCTA uncovers illegal oil refining warehouse in Abuja

Published

on

By

In continuation of the city cleaning exercise, Authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) with operatives of security personnel have uncovered an illegal oil refining warehouse in Mabushi, opposite Mobile filling station on Ahmadu Bello way in Abuja.

 

The Director, Department of Development Control, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima after the operation on Thursday, said the illegal refining site was discovered during the continuation of the city cleaning exercise.

 

According to him, about three to four plot of lands designated for commercial purposes have been converted to an area where oil and diesel are being adulterated and circulated to other parts of the city.

 

Galadima explained that the city sanitation task force will look into the provision of the law and make necessary recommendations to the FCT Administration for further actions on the plots used for the activity.

 

He said there was no arrest but the items used in carrying out the illegal refining have been impounded.

 

Galadima said, “During the continuation of our city sanitation exercise in Mabushi opposite Mobile filling station on Ahmadu way, we discovered an illegal refining site where oil and diesel are being adulterated, we have done the needful by moving the items to Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

 

“From what we have seen so far, about three or four pilot of lands designated for commercial purposes have been converted to unapproved activities, which we believe the owners are fully aware, there will be consequences.

 

“We are going to look at the provision of the law and make necessary recommendations to the FCT Administration”

 

He said the administration will continue to go tough on activities being carried out without government approval,  especially revocation of the titles.

 

Collaborating, Head, operations FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Service (DRTS), Deborah Osho said the city management team during the exercise also discovered that most of the areas in the Nation’s capital have been converted to illegal car mart and motor parks.

 

She disclosed that fifteen vehicles have so far been impounded since the operation commenced about two days.

Continue Reading

Trending