By: Theresa Igata

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that the Nigerian Senate will further probe the claims made by the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru on how and why the corporation was diverting NLNG dividends to defray the under-recovery costs of the importation of fuel.

Saraki who took to twitter, assured that “there will be no cover up”.

He said the Senate was confident that the adhoc committee looking into the issue will do a thorough job. “Everything will be unearthed”.

According to him, “When the Nigerian Senate established the ad-hoc committee to look into the fuel subsidy issue, I insisted that we want a transparent, honest and non-partisan investigation. The revelations by NNPC’s GMD have shown that we are acting in good faith.”

However in a statement earlier signed by his media adviser and publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu said, “We are however shocked that the NNPC’s GMD was claiming that the illegal diversion of dividends from the NLNG which should be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for the purpose of funding the fuel subsidy was done ‘in compliance with the National Assembly directive that NNPC as the supplier of last resort should, and has, maintained robust petrol supply”.

“So, if the National Assembly called on NNPC to carry out its legitimate duty of ensuring adequate fuel supply to Nigerians, the GMD logically thinks the corporation by that call has the license to perpetrate illegality, spend money without approval and violate appropriation laws.”

“It is my belief that if the National Assembly said the corporation should perform its duty effectively as a supplier of fuel to Nigerians without exposing people to needless suffering, that ought to be done within the ambit of the law”, he said.

Saraki however stated that the disclosure by the NNPC boss in response to inquiries by the Senate adhoc committee probing the issue of illegal payment of subsidy on fuel, called for further investigation by the Senate and also showed that as alleged in a motion moved earlier by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, a lot of illegal and unapproved spending is going on in the Corporation.