IGP refers representatives to Malami

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee must investigate an alleged loss of more than $2.4 billion in revenue from the illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil in 2015, including crude oil exports from 2014 to the present, writes the Justice Minister and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to demand details of the case against some whistleblowers.

The chairman of the committee, Merk Gbillah, denounced the alleged harassment and pursuit of whistleblowers who exposed the alleged illegal oil sales by agents of the Nigerian police and INTERPOL, asking why the ministry, DPP and security services decided to reopen the case abandoned after lawmakers began their investigation.

However, the Inspector General of Police Usman Baba, who denied the allegation, asked the commission to forward its investigation to the Ministry of Justice and the DPP.

The House had decided on December 20, 2022, to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate a whistleblower’s allegation of the illegal sale of 48 million barrels of Nigerian Bonny Light crude oil in China in 2015 and the insurance status of the cargo.

The committee is also required to investigate all exports and sales of crude oil by Nigeria from 2014 to the present, with respect to quantity, insurance, income generated, transfers to the Federation account or other accounts, as well as the use of the income for the reporting period.

In addition, the panel will examine all proceeds recovered through the whistleblowing policy of the regime led by the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the degree of compliance with the policy.

These resolutions followed the unanimous approval of a motion introduced by a member of the House, Ibrahim Isiaka, titled “Alleged loss of more than $2.4 billion in revenue from illegal sales of 48 million barrels of crude oil exports in 2015, including crude oil exports from 2014′. until date.’

The commission, which held its inaugural meeting on Dec. 29, held its first investigative hearing on Thursday, where lawmakers named an assistant superintendent general of police and Nigeria’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau chief Garba Umar, who said he IGP represented, grilling. .

The chairman of the commission, Mark Gbillah, echoed the whistleblowers’ allegations, citing the role of a presidential commission.

Composed of a former Chief of Staff to the President, the late Abba Kyari; a former Group Managing Director of the defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru; a former Director General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura; and the group director, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari; and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

Gbillah said: “There is an allegation that a presidential committee was set up sometime in 2015, including the late chief of staff of the president, Abba Kyari; late GMD of the NNPC, Baru; the former DG (of) DSS, Daura. It was chaired by retired General Mohammed Umar and the current CEO of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, who was then the Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Department. The Attorney General also became a member of the committee at some point.

“That commission allegedly traveled to China at the behest of a whistleblower with Mexican citizenship, about the existence in China of millions of barrels of crude oil from Nigeria. And this person showed interest in buying this crude oil, which the government at the time reportedly had to investigate first.

“So this commission went to China, confirmed the existence of this crude oil, but this concerned person claims that when the sales process of this crude oil started, they were not contacted again and they have evidence of the fact that the crude oil was sold without the money being transferred to the treasury of the Nigerian government.”

The chairman added: “When these issues started to arise, they (whistleblowers) said that they were being harassed and threatened, and false charges had been made against them that required them to be taken to court on this matter. In the end, the case was dropped.

“Now, fast forward to now, for that case was deadlocked; it may interest you to know that at the time these allegations apparently took place, the department the police sent to investigate this was the Force CID, then under the DIG Michael Ogbizi, now retired. The report would have been created and forwarded for action by the Attorney General. But it will also be something that we would now like to understand why. If it is related to that problem, why is INTERPOL writing to some of these individuals?”

Gbillah noted that the Mexican businessman had since left Nigeria for his country, adding that he would meet with the Mexican ambassador to Nigeria later on Thursday.

“The committee members were going to go to Mexico — that’s how detailed the House of Representatives is — to meet this person. We wouldn’t want the citizens of another country to be oppressed the way we don’t want a Nigerian in Mexico to be oppressed if they tell the truth,” he stressed.

According to the chairman, two of the Nigerian whistleblowers have approached the committee “willing to give details of what happened in this whole situation”.

Responding to the concerns, Umar stated that the police have a responsibility to respond to any petition received against individuals and entities.

Umar said INTERPOL had received a petition against some individuals who are blackmailing and extorting money from government officials and therefore invited a Mexican, Marco Antonio Ramirez; and Francis Ibomor and 40 others who are Nigerians.

He said: “This is to inform the committee that INTERPOL is not investigating a new case. The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation is only seeking INTERPOL assistance by using INTERPOL tools to apprehend the fugitive who has since flown out of the country to escape justice.

“It is our kind advice that all inquiries in this case can be directed to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the competent court hearing the case. It will be detrimental to the Nigeria Police to disclose or deal with a case pending before any court of competent jurisdiction.

“However, the Nigeria Police stand ready to assist the National Assembly in their oversight function. Enclosed is a copy of the letter from the Attorney General of the Federation, an indictment form, a summary of the prosecution’s case against the defendants, a hearing and a warrant of arrest from the Federal Supreme Court.

“I have no knowledge. I’m not interested. There is a request from a competent ministry to trace these persons. And they added a court order. I will never allow anyone to use me. It’s a request. Those who may be able to answer are those who investigated the case and the Attorney General’s office. But I assure you we are not investigating. We assist.”

In his ruling, Gbillah asked Malami and the DPP to provide the committee with details of the case.

The Chairman said: “Registrar, please write to the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation and the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation to provide this Committee with a detailed report of the investigation into the charges against these persons, such as the was done by DIG Michael Ogbizi or another police department.

“I also want a certified copy of the letter from the DPP to the Inspector General of Police to conduct that investigation in the first instance, and the reasons why that investigation was conducted.

“I also wish to obtain the certified copy of the case filed against these persons by the Director of Public Prosecutions before a competent court in Nigeria.”