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Senate Rebukes Senator Oshiomhole Over NNPC 'Criminals and Thieves' Accusation
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Senate Rebukes Senator Oshiomhole Over NNPC 'Criminals and Thieves' Accusation

From Premium Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Senator Adams Oshiomhole's accusation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) as "a bunch of criminals and thieves" has drawn sharp criticism from colleagues and the Senate itself.
  • The Senate formally dissociated itself from Oshiomhole's remarks, deeming them an "unwarranted attack" and not representative of the institution's official position.
  • Former NNPC Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajiya refuted claims of a missing ₦210 trillion, stating the company's total revenue from 2017-2023 was ₦54.5 trillion, and challenged authorities to conduct a forensic investigation.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole's strong denunciation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) as "a bunch of criminals and thieves" has sparked significant backlash, with fellow senators and the Senate leadership distancing themselves from his claims.

The NNPC is the cash cow of this country. Such reckless statements could damage Nigeria’s investment image internationally.

— Adam Alierodescribing Senator Oshiomhole's comments as reckless

Senator Adamu Aliero, a former Kebbi State governor, described Oshiomhole's statement as "reckless" and warned that it could damage Nigeria's international investment image. The Senate, through a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele on Thursday, June 11, officially condemned the remarks as an "unwarranted attack on the character of public officers." The upper legislative chamber clarified that Oshiomhole's comments do not reflect the Senate's official position.

an unwarranted attack on the character of public officers

— Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamideledescribing Senator Oshiomhole's remarks in a motion

Several ranking legislators, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, cautioned Oshiomhole against making defamatory statements that could undermine public institutions. Many colleagues reportedly demanded that he publicly withdraw his remarks, indicating a lack of support even within his own party.

The alleged 'missing' sum is nearly four times the entire revenue earned.

— Umar Ajiyaexplaining the mathematical impossibility of the missing funds claim

The controversy stems partly from claims of a missing ₦210 trillion. However, Umar Ajiya, the NNPC's former Chief Financial Officer, presented figures during a Senate committee hearing that contradict this assertion. Ajiya stated that the NNPC's total revenue between 2017 and 2023 was ₦54.5 trillion, making the missing amount mathematically impossible. He further clarified that the company spent ₦2.9 billion on its registration, not ₦5.8 billion. Ajiya challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to conduct a forensic investigation, vowing that anyone found guilty should be arrested and jailed.

That does not sound like the language of a thief, or someone who has something to hide.

— Umar Ajiyacommenting on his own challenge for a forensic investigation
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Premium Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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