50 NNPC Staff defraud Retailers N15bn, former GMD Runs

No fewer  than 50 members of staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are being investigated by the Corporation for their alleged roles in a multi-billion naira retail fraud, according to a source familiar with the probe of the NNPC workers.

The 50 NNPC workers allegedly colluded to defraud NNPC retail outlets of the sum of N15 billion which has resulted in an internal probe.

The Nation newspaper reports that the NNPC management is presently seeking legal advice on whether it should hand over the 50 workers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Concerning the 50 NNPC workers, a source said:

“The N15billion Fraud Was Committed In NNPC Retail Outlets Nationwide And About 50 Staff Have Been Implicated So Far.

“Going By The NNPC Act, We Have To Exhaust Internal Mechanism Of Investigating The N15billion Fraud Before Inviting EFCC Or Any Anti-Graft Agency.

“Since We Have Our Checks And Audit Control Unit, We Must Have Gone Far In Our Auditing Process In Order To Be Able To Hand Over Our Findings To EFCC. All Those Involved Are Presently Going Through Internal Investigative Procedures. We Have Even Recalled Two Former Managing Directors Of The Retail Services Unit Who Have Retired.”

It was equally gathered that while the fate of the 50 NNPC workers is being deliberated upon, the EFCC has contacted the oil company for assistance in locating a yet to be named former group managing director (GMD) of the corporation.

The former NNPC boss is said to be linked to an ongoing probe of $1.6 billion illegal oil deals allegedly traced to former petroleum resources minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The NNPC in its response to the EFCC however stated that it could not ascertain the present location of the former GMD and that he could possibly have left the country.

One source said:

“We Are Hopeful That The Ex-GMD Will Be Honourable Enough To Make Himself Available For Interaction With Our Team Of Investigators.

“Alternatively, We Will Look For Him Wherever He Is.”