President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that anyone accused of corruption in the report submitted by the Special Task Force on the petroleum sector will be handed over to the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution.
But the presentation of the report was marred by controversy as some members of the committee urged the President to reject the report, claiming it is flawed.
The Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, headed by former EFCC chairman, Mr Nuhu Ribadu submitted its report to the president condemning the use of what he called “traders in the sale of oil, oil theft and corruption” and he was yet to conclude his presentation when a member of his committee interrupted his presentation and asked the president to reject the report .
A member of the committee and former Head of Service, Mr Steve Oransanye described the report, which was earlier in the week leaked to the media, as flawed and he urged the president to reject the report.
Other members of the Ribadu led Petroleum Revenue Task Force that joined the controversy were Mr Benard Oti and Ismaila Zubeiru.
The claim was however immediately opposed by Mr Ribadu, affirming that the report he submitted cannot be faulted by anyone and that he stands by the truth at all times.
The president nonetheless received the report with a promise to take a critical look at the document and maintained that the disagreement amongst members of the committee would not deter him from doing the right thing.
The President told them not to quarrel about it, adding that “no one found guilty will be spared.”
The Ribadu committee was among three other committees set up following the week long nationwide strike and protest against the removal of fuel subsidy in January.
Other committees that presented their reports, during the presentation that lasted two hours, were the committees on Governance and Control Task Force and National Refineries Task Force.
The chairman of National Refineries Task Force, Yusuf Ali in his presentation decried the current state of the nation’s refineries and urged the federal government to build three new refineries as soon as possible.
The president however promised that he will do all in his powers to ensure that the submitted reports are fully implemented.
