By Mercy Aikoye
Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (MMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed, Monday shunned a probe of irregularities and alleged corruption in the NNPCL.
The probe being conducted by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee, headed by Hon Abubakar Nalaraba, is equally investigating the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of OVH Energy Marketing by the NNPCL.
The NNPC sent its Executive Vice-President (Downstream), Yemi Adetunji, while the NMDPRA was represented by Soji Soloye.
They said their various chief executive officers could not attend the hearing because they were attending to other things.
When the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee inquired if they could represent their principals at the probe, they said they could not.
Nalaraba said it was unfortunate because the committee was far behind schedule in the discharge of its assignment.
“This is an Ad-hoc committee on the need to investigate the irregularities and alleged corruption in the Nigeria energy security provider, the NNPC Limited, and the acquisition of OVH Energy Marketing.
“The House resolved to set up this committee to investigate and report within four weeks.
“Unfortunately, we are far behind schedule despite the extension of the House recess, we still feel the need to continue or to progress with this investigation,” he said.
The hearing dissolved into a closed-door session for the panel to decide an appropriate time for the Chief Executives to appear.
