By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Finance and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) has threatened sanctions to the full extent of the law against companies and agencies who have dodged showing up for a probe of the loss of $60b inflated cash calls by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Joint Venture Agreements.
The joint panel co-chaired by Hon James Faleke (Finance) and Hon Alhassan Ado-Doguwa (Petroleum Resources), had in the past week frowned at the absence of chief executives of companies and agencies linked to the probe at the hearings.
It berated the shoddy presentation made by the few who turned up and condemned the habit of sending representatives by the invited companies and agencies.
Frustrated by the uncooperative attitude of those invited, Co-Chairman, Ado-Doguwa, at the last hearing on Friday, said the Committee would not take it lightly with those who attempt to undermine the constitutional power of the parliament.
The lawmaker said the agencies are involved with huge amounts of resources that would have been used to better the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians and, hence must be held accountable.
He said, “For those who have not come because there were several companies and agencies that were invited and it’s like they were insensitive to the invitation of this important committee.
Some of the companies and Agencies involved in the probe include Total Exploration, Shell Petroleum, Agip, Chevron, Oando, Mobil, Pan Ocean, Erotton, Belema, First Exploration, and New Cross Exploration.
Others are Seplat Petroleum, Amini International Petroleum, West Africa Exploration and Production Limited, Walter Smith Petroleum Limited, ND Western Limited, Sahara Energy Limited, First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited, Neconde Energy Limited, Elcrest Exploration and Production Limited, and Shoreline Natural Resources Limited.
