Those asked to step down are the Managing Director of the NNPC Retail, Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue; the General Manager (Operations) of NNPC Retail, Mamza Gwadabe; as well as Ibrahim Bello, another official of NNPC retail. The identity of the last person could not be confirmed as at press time.
The four were asked to depart last Thursday over the ‘missing’ petrol scandal involving Capital Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited owned by businessman, Ifeanyi Ubah.
Following PREMIUM TIMES’ exclusive report on the scandal also involving MRS Petroleum, the NNPC announced that it had set up a committee to investigate the matter.
The committee reportedly found the officials culpable and recommended their dismissal from service.
But Premium times learnt that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, and the management of the NNPC later decided to convert their dismissal to retirement.
The case and the officials are now to be referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for a full-scale investigation of the matter.
Insiders claimed it was Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue who triggered the initial investigation after her attention was called to the matter.
The products, over 100 million litres of petrol worth over N14 billion, belonging to the NNPC Retail, were stored at the private depot under a throughput arrangement as part of the corporation’s strategy to build strategic national fuel reserve.
The NNPC Chief Operating Officer, Downstream, Henry Ikem-Obi, said the fraud was discovered last January when the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, PPMC, another subsidiary of NNPC, needed to access the NNPC Retail’s petrol stored at the Capital Oil depot, to bridge the supply gap.
Mr. Ikem-Obi said the management of Capital Oil offered no concrete explanation regarding why it sold all the NNPC stock of petrol at its depot without seeking permission or informing NNPC Retail.
A source close to the corporation said Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue’s decision to alert the NNPC management and also report to the security and anti-graft agencies was after she realized her mistake to have allowed the fraud to happen.
PREMIUM TIMES, however, learnt that the embattled NNPC Retail boss has vowed not to leave, saying she did nothing wrong to warrant her resignation.
“She also rejected the resignation of Mr. Gwadabe on Thursday saying she had trust in his ability,”
When contacted on Sunday, Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue expressed surprised, saying she was not aware of any official notice either retiring her or asking her to resign over the matter.
The spokesperson of the NNPC, Ndu Ughamadu, also said he was unaware of the development.
from Premium times
They have started again. How can someone make away with this much without authorization and they are now pushing the blame around? These Nnpc officials seem to be the most corrupt. Minister of petroleum take note.
ReplyDeleteThey are the ones that made away with it, who else?
ReplyDeleteResign and go scot free? Never! Press charges against them, give the court concrete facts and evidences against them, that they themselves will know there's no way out of their crimes and have them prosecuted, jailed, then strip them off every penny they stole.
ReplyDeleteIt would serve as deterrent to others trying to tow their paths. Blood Rogues in Ties.
Who owns NNPC-Nigeria
ReplyDeleteWho are the affected directors-Nigerians
Who owns Capital Oil- a Nigerian
Where is the money on question-outside Nigeria.
Based on above logistics,devil is not a liar, but a learner.
Stella your story no fact. Just mere rumour they are busy working. MD is a good woman with a good heart all cos shes not Hausa she knows nothing about the missing products Ifeanyi ubah should be in kirikiri prison. It is well with Naija
ReplyDeleteAll are thieves and come short of the glory of God. Thieves everywhere
ReplyDeleteIfeamyi Uba is a real confidence crook! Yet he was busy bragging he can make one dollar become one naira.
ReplyDelete