The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service and Department of Petroleum Resources held a meeting behind closed door that dragged till late Monday night at the NNPC headquarters in Abuja.
Our correspondent reported that the meeting was conveyed to discuss the alleged non-remittance of $49.8bn to the Federation Account by the NNPC as well as other financial matters that needed clarity.
It was learnt that the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, might have been summoned to the Presidential Villa as a result of the controversies surrounding the alleged non-remittance of the revenue.
Although the General Manager, Media Relations Department, NNPC, Dr. Omar Ibrahim, stated that the GMD often visited the villa, sources said the presence of Yakubu there on Monday had a lot to do with the alleged missing $49.8bn.
Ibrahim said, “I can confirm to you that the meeting has been ongoing for hours. I can also confirm to you that it is not just the $49.8bn issue that is been discussed. Other matters are being addressed by the officials of the NNPC, CBN, FIRS and DPR.
“They are having a meeting to reconcile figures among the agencies of government that are involved. Up till this moment (8.10pm) that I am speaking to you, they are still there and may not finish until all the issues are resolved.”
Asked if the GMD was summoned to the Presidential Villa as a result of the alleged missing fund, Ibrahim said, “The NNPC GMD always goes to the villa and I don’t think his visit this time is related to the issue of the $49.8bn.”
The Governor of the CBN, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, had accused the NNPC of failing to remit the sum.
Sanusi complained to President Goodluck Jonathan via a letter about the continuing refusal of the NNPC to honour its legal obligations, including failure to remit the said amount, which he said represented 76 per cent of the value of crude oil lifting during the period.
Meanwhile, the Economic Management Team on Monday met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting was attended by members, including the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the CBN governor.
It was learnt that both Sanusi and the NNPC GMD were asked some questions about the unremitted $49.8bn oil revenue.
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