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The Senate has constituted a panel to investigate the call by Minister of State Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu for cancellation of some recent contracts awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Recall that a leaked letter written by the Dr Kachikwu to President Buhari had alleged mishandling of the affairs of NNPC by corporation boss Maikanti Baru. The minister claimed in that letter that the NNPC awarded contracts without following the due process, a situation that contradicts the policy of the Buhari-led administration on transparency. Following the leakage of that letter to the press on Tuesday last week, Kachikwu was spotted heading towards the Banquet Hall at the presidential villa on Friday for a closed-door meeting with the president.
Further developments as reported by Vanguard, now indicates that the Senate had on Wednesday constituted a committee to investigate the contents of Kachikwu’s letter. The 9-person committee is expected to look into Kachikwu’s call for a cancellation of the controversial appointments as well as investigate the finances and activities of the NNPC. The committee is headed by former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, APC, Sokoto North, with Senators Bassey Albert Akpan, PDP, Akwa Ibom North East; Tayo Alasoadura, APC, Ondo Central; Kabir Marafa, APC, Zamfara Central; Samuel Anyanwu, PDP, Imo East; Ahmed Ogembe, PDP, Kogi Central; Rose Oko, PDP, Cross River North; Chukwuka Utazi, PDP, Enugu North; and Baba Kaka Garba, APC, Borno Central, as members.
According to the Vanguard, the decision to probe the allegations raised by Kachikwu against Baru was sequel to an additional prayer by Senator Kabir Marafa, APC, Zamfara Central during deliberation on a motion by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, PDP, Imo East titled: “Allegation of Corruption against NNPC Trading: Time to conduct a holistic investigation,” which called for the raising of an ad-hoc committee to ‘’investigate the policy introduced by the current NNPC Trading Limited.” That prayer obviously received enough support, hence the constitution of the 9-person panel.
Time will tell what (if anything) will come out of it all. Nigerians are a patient lot.
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