Erstwhile deputy national publicity secretary of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has beckoned on the nation’s anti-graft agencies to probe without delay the federal government alleged commitment of $3.7billion contract to rehabilitate the four refineries in Nigeria.
Frank, who spoke in Abuja via a statement, said the contract award of $3.7 billion, which is a revelation of an adhoc House of Representatives investigating the state of refineries in the country, said he figure is intriguing.
He described the contract sum as “an unimaginable heist and brutal looting of the nation’s financial resources under President Muhammadu Buhari’s watch in a country where average Nigerians can no longer afford one meal per day.”
The erstwhile spokesman of Nigeria’s ruling party who lost his position due to his radical views on the activities of his party, condemned the refusal of the minister of state for petroleum resources, Timipre Sylva, the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) limited, Malam Mele Kyari, and other top officials of the ministry from appearing before the National Assembly committee.
The officials were invited by the lawmakers to explain why and how such colossal amount were earmarked to service the three moribund refineries.
He called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to rise up to the occasion and investigate the alleged fraud.
Mr. Frank alleged that the $3.7bn must have been grossly mismanaged, stolen or looted. According to him, Nigerians must expect that there is more to figures being brandied before Nigerians.
“Since 2015 till date, Buhari has been the substantive minister of petroleum and he cannot claim ignorance of the award of this bizarre contract. It is benumbing that despite revelation by Mr. Tony Elumelu that 95% of oil production in Nigeria is being stolen, Buhari who is in charge as minister of petroleum has not deemed it necessary to go after the thieves or order anti-corruption agencies to go after the evil cartel stealing the nation’s crude oil.
“When will Buhari truly fight corruption in Nigeria? Will it be after he leaves office in May 2023?,” the APC former spokesman stated.
Be the first to know when we publish an update
