NNPC, NMDPRA Probe: Lawmakers caution c’ttee against partiality

Some members of the House of Representatives have rallied support for the Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari, over the committee’s ongoing probe of the firm.

The group advised the investigative panel to remain neutral in the probe of Kyari and the Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed.

The lawmakers, led by Rep. Billy Osawaru, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

Osawaru faulted the call for the removal of Kyari and Ahmed, describing the move as premature.

Osawaru said the call for the sack of Kyari when an investigation is ongoing was an action against parliamentary culture.

Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Rep. Philip Agbese, had asked President Bola Tinubu to immediately dismiss Kyari for allegedly stifling the economy’s growth due to the oil sector crisis.

Agbese also called on the President to sack Ahmed and other inherited appointees.

Osawaru said it was against parliamentary culture to call for the sack of an official of government when an investigation involving such a person had not been concluded.

He said it was in the parliamentary culture to rest the right to a fair hearing and called on the committee handling the probe to be impartial.

The House had mandated the joint committee on midstream and downstream petroleum to investigate issues in the oil and gas sector.

He said, “We are aware that the investigation is ongoing and the final decision has not been reached.

“However, our attention has been drawn to some media reports calling for the removal of Kyari and Farouk while the above investigation is ongoing.

“We wish to state that it is in the parliamentary culture to afford parties in an investigation the right to a fair hearing.

“Therefore, the call for the removal of anyone while an investigation is pending is premature.

“We therefore call on all Nigerians to be patient and law-abiding in expectation of a better Nigeria.”