Senate Probes Baru For Awarding $25b Contracts Without Due Process

Senate on Wednesday resolved to set up ad-hoc Committee to probe the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),  Baru Maikanti over allegation of awarding $25 billion contracts  without due process. 

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources,  Ibe Kachikwu had in the leaked letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari accused Baru of single handely awarded $25 billion contract without due process. 

However,  Senate decision to probe allegations levied against Baru was as a result of the motion sponsored by Senator Samuel Anyanwu. 

Anyanwu in his motion accused Baru of allocating almost all products to Duke Oil in addition to automatic inclusion of the firm in the lifting of Crude oil, Gas etc. 

He added that the relationship between the NNPC and Duke Oil  has helped to greatly stifle the growth of indigenous companies operating in the oil industry sector. 

Anyanwu, in his prayer, demanded for constitution of ad-hoc committee to investigate the policy  introduced by the current GMD of allocating all products to Duke Oil and carryout holistic investigation into the activities of NNPC trading limited which was unanimously adopted. 

However, Senator Kabiru Marafa came in through additional prayer requesting for investigation into award of contracts without due process levied against Baruch by the Minister of State for Petroleum. 

After exhaustive debate on the bill,  Senate President,  Bukola Saraki announced the setting up seven man ad-hoc committee to investigate the issue. 

Senate President announced Senator Aliyu Wamakko as chairman of the ad-hoc committee while  Senators Rose Ojo,  Kabiru Marafa, Bashir Babakaka,  Albert Akpan,  Chukwuka Utazi, Tayo Alasoadura, Samuel Anyanwu and Ahmed Ogembe are members.

In his remarks,  Saraki urged the members of the ad-hoc committee to come out with the report that will meet up with standard of the Senate.

According to him, we must investigate this allegation and hope the quality of report will meet the standard we have set in the 8th Senate.

Yesterday, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu accused Maikanti Baru of working against oil sector growth in letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari but leaked to journalists.

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