Lawmaker brags about paying $1.7 million to be committee chairman, threatens to leak secrets in HoR
There’s currently secret tension brewing in the House of Representatives between Honourable Ugochinyere Ikenga, who’s the committee chairman on petroleum resources (downstream), and members over the recent committee set up to investigate the crisis between Dangote Refinery, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and other oil sectors.
Credible sources confirmed that since the joint committee on downstream with Ikenga as co-head and Mainstream with Honourable Prince Okogie as co-head, Ikenga has allegedly hijacked the committee and singlehandedly signed documents that ought to have been jointly signed by both chairmen.
The joint committee set up for the forensic investigation of the Dangote/NNPCL feud has a Whatsapp group named ‘Joint Mainstream Downstream Committee’, which SolaceBase sources within the group update them on information happening inside.
READ ALSO: Reps demand sack of NNPCL CEO Kyari over Dangote refinery conflict
According to the lawmaker sources, trouble began when Ikenga reportedly told the committee members to halt the process of NNPCL going to the open market to source for funding of $2 billion and thereafter convene a press conference.
This move was resisted by the majority of the committee members who noted that such will be counterproductive as they do not have the facts of the matter. They also kicked against any press conference or briefing pending when the joint committee starts its sitting, a move that didn’t go down well with Ikenga.
Sources disclosed that he allegedly went behind to lobby lawmakers to begin to send out press release as well as shop for members. In the Whatsapp group, Ikenga was accused of getting money from the Dangote Refinery to take sides and was asked to step aside for a neutral person from the downstream to be co-chair, a move he resisted.
They became livid with the manner in which Ikenga has taken the investigation personal by already writing a favourable report for the Dangote Refinery and waiting for the members to adopt and sign, an action which they have all rejected.
Ikenga reportedly sponsored 15 lawmakers to convene a press briefing calling for the suspension of the management of NNPCL and NMDPRA, despite the joint committee chairman, Prince Okojie kicking against such moves.
This led to Okojie, his Vice Chairman and Clerk writing to the Speaker to distance themselves from the statements made by the 15 lawmakers.
“This is the same way he reportedly lured some lawmakers to meet Governor Sim Fubara and used the lawmakers to make money for himself, just like he wants to use our committee now to make money from Dangote. You all should ask the members who went to Dangote Refinery if what they said they were going for what actually happened. Ask”, a lawmaker stated in the group.
It was gathered that Prince Okojie and the deputy chairmen resigned from the committee on Sunday night over Ikenga’s action of hijacking the entire process.
Some members who spoke to SolaceBase in confidence noted that they have not benefitted from the membership of the committee as Ikenga shields them from having access to NNPCL and other petroleum regulatory agencies.
Attempts by members to have him removed by the house leadership have met brick walls as he has consistently reportedly boasted of paying $1.7 million to secure the committee chairman. He had earlier asked to be given chairman on banking, in order to protect Godwin Emefiele but was shocked to hear on the floor of the house announced as the chairman of petroleum (downstream).
According to our sources, Ikenga allegedly called the Speaker and threatened to set the nation on fire with information available to him if he dared remove him as the Chairman of Downstream and Co-Chairman of the joint committee. He warned Abbas of the consequences of doing such, considering how much he allegedly paid to secure the position.
Three committee members who spoke to SolaceBase said Ikenga vows to set the House of Reps into crisis if he is removed and has warned the leadership of the risk that comes with his removal.
A lawmaker source stated that Ikenga told them how he outspent all of them in the House of Representatives to be able to defeat Governor Hope Uzodinma and needs to make as much money as he can make to enable him to run for the governorship of Imo State.
We can however confirm that the Speaker has dissolved the joint committee but yet to make it public to the lawmakers.
Some staff of NNPCL who spoke wailed on how Ikenga allegedly harassed and intimidated the management to allocate petroleum products to him as well as vessels.
He has also reportedly sent various contractors to be given contracts while pestering the management to issue payments to his choice contractors. He also asked for an upstream FTSA contract but was not given. The refusal of NNPCL to accede to these many requests has set them at loggerheads with him according to them.
When asked if they are ready to face the joint committee probe, a management staff stated that they are ready to testify under oath before the committee, as long as it promised to be neutral. He noted that this is the only chance they have to tell Nigerians their own part of the story through the House of Reps investigation.
Proofreading and editing by Cara Luckson, Editor at Neptune Prime.
