Lawmaker disagrees with Committee’s NNPCL directive

The House of Representative member representing Brass-Nembe Federal Constituency, Marie Ebikake has given her position on the forensic investigation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited by the Petroleum (Midstream/Downstream) Joint committee of the House of Representatives.

She said the directive quoted in the media regarding the audit of the NNPCL was not the true position of the committee.

The Special Joint Committee had on Wednesday directed the NNPCL to halt what it called the mortgage of Nigeria’s future crude oil until it concludes its assignment.

Recall that the committee chaired by the lawmaker representing Ideato South/Ideato North Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, commenced its probe of shady deals in the sector last week.

The committee’s directive followed reports that NNPCL is planning to borrow an additional $2bn in crude oil-backed loans from international creditors to boost its financial inflow.

However, in a statement on Friday made available to PUNCH Online, Ebikake dissociated herself from the directive given to the national oil company.

The statement reads, “If the recent publication credited to some of our members, which outrightly contradicts the position of the Petroleum (Midstream & Downstream) Joint Committee, with respect to the current forensic investigation of the operations of the NNPCL is true, then I am at a loss to understand the significance of sections 88 and 89 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, with relation to our responsibility as representatives of the people.

“If indeed that press statement emanated from the purported group of 50 lawmakers, then it is a low blow that hurts none other than our honorable selves, simply because it publicly expresses a division on the crucial issue of national survival, and is an irreversible injury to our collective credibility as representatives of the citizens.

“In my opinion, even the parliamentary culture alluded to, by the group, should not be invoked for the protection of the interest of heads of parastatals, organizations and public agencies against the protection of the interest of the citizens which, I believe, is the hallowed responsibility of the people’s parliament.

“Consequently, I wish to express my total dissociation from the decision of the group of 50, in the considered opinion that the position held by the joint committee led by Ugochinyere truly represents the collective interest of our constituents, and the goodwill of the President.”