By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Finance and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) has threatened sanctions to the full extent of the law against companies and agencies who have refused to appear before the committee for an investigation of the loss of $60 billion inflated cash calls by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Joint Venture Agreements.
The Joint Committee which is co-chaired by Rep. James Faleke (Finance) and Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa (Petroleum Resources), had in the past week expressed displeasure at the absence of Chief Executives of companies and agencies linked to the probe at the hearings.
It criticised the poor submissions by the few companies that turned up, even as they condemned the habit of sending representatives by the invited companies and agencies.
Infuriated by the uncooperative attitude of those invited, Co-Chairman, Rep. Ado-Doguwa, at the hearing on Friday, said the Committee would not take it lightly with those who attempt to undermine the constitutional power of the parliament.
The lawmaker said the agencies are involved with huge amounts of resources that would have been used to better the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians, hence must be held accountable.
He said, “For those who have not come because there were several companies and agencies that were invited and it’s like they were insensitive to the invitation of this important committee.
“For those who chose to disregard what the parliament is doing here, this committee would not take it lightly with anyone or institution who wants to undermine the constitutional powers of this important hearing to investigate the affairs of public finance of this great country, Nigeria.
“Myself and all members of the committee are of the view that we would be compelled going forward to invoke and also create any means possible to use the available instrumentalities of law to make sure that whoever is invited appears and if any of them decide not appear, then at the end we would be compelled to use the instrumentalities of the law around us to compel appearance.
“Because obviously no one of us would takes lightly some of the insensitive actions or inactions of some of the agencies of government especially in matters that involve huge amounts of resources. Resources that would have been used to better the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians. That would have been used to improve a lot in the course of government and the course of governance in our great country Nigeria.
“I would like to direct the clerk to go through his books and let us have on record those who were invited and have not explained reasons why they did not come. Let us also know those who have responded by way of apology or any other reason not to appear and then the committee would take appropriate actions in that regard.”
Some of the companies and Agencies who are involved in the investigation are Total Exploration, Shell Petroleum, Agip, Chevron, Oando, Mobil, Pan Ocean, Erotton, Belema, First Exploration, and New Cross Exploration.
Others are Seplat Petroleum, Amini International Petroleum, West Africa Exploration and Production Limited, Walter Smith Petroleum Limited, ND Western Limited, Sahara Energy Limited, First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited, Neconde Energy Limited, Elcrest Exploration and Production Limited, and Shoreline Natural Resources Limited.