The Senate, Tuesday, said it would probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over claims that it mismanaged the sum of N5.1 trillion it got as subsidy funds between 2006 and 2015.
Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) while raising a Point of Order drew the attention of the Senate to the refusal of the Federal Government to probe the nation’s oil company, which he said got 51 out of 100 percent share of companies recognised to import petroleum products into the country.
Melaye said all the oil marketers currently facing trial over alleged subsidy fraud, only constitute 49 percent of imported refined products.
Recall that in January this year, a fuel subsidy suspect, Opeyemi Ajuyah, died while her trial was still on.
She was facing an eight-count amended charge alongside Abdullahi, son of late prominent businessman, Abdullazeez Arisekola-Alao and Olanrewaju Olalusi before an Ikeja High Court over allegation of N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.
But according to Melaye, “While we are prosecuting the independent marketers whose proceed from subsidy is about N3.83 trillion, NNPC collected a total of N5.1 trillion on subsidy and this has never been investigated.
“This has never been looked at and we are busy chasing independent marketers. The time to look at the books of NNPC as regards petroleum subsidy is now.
“We have taken the lead in the fight against corruption in this chamber and I want to say we must do everything within our powers to investigate and bring whoever is found wanting to book”.
In his remarks, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who presided over plenary, asked the lawmaker to present a motion on the matter at Wednesday plenary.
