The Chairman Committee on Petroleum Revenue Task Force, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and a member of his committee, Mr Steve Orosanye, at the presentation of the committee’s report to President Goodluck Jonathan traded words with the latter alleging that the report was flawed with unconfirmed figures.
Mr Ribadu accused the former Head of Service of not working with the committee and also got himself appointed on to the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) whilst the committee was undertaking its investigation of the company and others in the oil sector.
According to the former chairman of the Economic Crimes Commission (EFCC), “Steve Orosanye never participated one day in the deliberations of this committee.” “Not even a single day. Ne never” he emphasised, adding that “the first time we saw Steve was at the end of the work when we were talking about recoveries from companies that he jumped in and he got in.”
A stern looking Ribadu defended his position, noting “all the members (of the committee) are here, they can bear witness to what I have said.”
He further revealed that despite the independence of the committee, Mr Orosanye, got himself appointed as a member on the board of Directors of the NNPC.
Another member of the committee who had also raised issues with the report, Mr Bernard Oti, was alleged to have secured an appointment as NNPC’s Director of Finance while the committee’s investigation lasted.
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