Clash erupts in Senate over probe of $3.8bn fuel subsidy fund

macfranc007 October 17, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Kess Ewubare

- Senator Biodun Olujimi raises order over reported $3.5bn earmarked as subsidy recovery funds by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

- Olujimi calls for the Senate committee on petroleum downstream to look into the subsidy recovery funds and investigate what the true situation on ground is

- Senator Marafa who heads the committee on petroleum downstream, faults calls to dissolve his committee

Some senators have clashed over moves by the Senate to institute a probe into the alleged payment of $3.8bn fuel subsidy by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The Tribune reports that the drama in the upper chamber began after a point of order was raised by the Senate minority leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, citing a report in a newspaper that $3.5bn was earmarked as subsidy recovery funds by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The lawmaker said despite attempts to compel the leadership of NNPC to submit a proper budget to the National Assembly on subsidy payment, it has instead, opted for an illegal fund not approved by the parliament.

“I need to bring this issue to the attention of the Senate. The NNPC is operating an illegal fund on subsidy. As a Senate, we are the true representatives of the people. We cannot sit back and allow this to happen,” Olujimi said.

“I am bringing this to the attention of the Senate so that we can look at the issue. Let the various committees, especially the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), look into this issue. Let them investigate and tell us what the position on the ground is.”

She was also supported by Senator Ali Ndume, who asked the Senate leadership not to include the Senator Kabir Marafa-led petroleum on downstream committee in the proposed probe of NNPC.

The Borno senator alleged that the downstream committee might have been compromised in the line of duty.

But Senator Marafa faulted the allegations against his committee, noting that he felt insulted by the claims that his committee might have been compromised.

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He accused those advocating for an adhoc committee be set up in place of his standing committee, of trying to generate campaign funds ahead of their elections in 2019.

He called on Ndume to withdraw the statement and tender an apology. The lawmaker also defended NNPC and claimed that the allegations were false.

“I feel insulted. If the Selection Committee agrees today to dissolve our committee, I will not have any problem with that. They have the right to do that. But for anyone to just accuse of us that we have been compromised, I think it is an insult.

“I know that those advocating that an adhoc committee be set up to investigate the issue, are out to generate campaign funds for their election next year. They are free to do so. I will not stop them. But no one should malign us and accuse us of compromise.”

Normalcy however, returned to the House after Ndume eventually apologised and withdrew his statement. Marafa also withdrew his statement and apologised to his colleagues for his outburst.

Meanwhile, the president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday, October 16, evaded pressures from members of the upper chamber to summon the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, over the level of insecurity and murder of Hauwa Liman.

At the sitting, Premium Times reports that a point of order was raised by Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy president of the Senate, who urged the chamber to look into the gruesome killing of a Red Cross staff, Hauwa Liman, by the Boko-haram terrorist group.

In his contribution, Dino Melaye asked the chamber to summon IGP Idris.

Melaye reportedly berated the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration accusing it of being incompetent in providing security for the citizens.

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