The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has invited the NNPC GMD, Maikanti Baru; and the MD of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Osagie Okubor, over the revocation of the licence of an oilfield (OML 13).
The oilfield was allegedly awarded to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, through an executive fiat.
The invitation followed a probe into the deal by the committee based on a petition to the Senate by the National Coordinator, Global Peace and Sustainability Network, Longers Anyanwu.
The petitioner alleged that OML 13 licence, which belonged to SPDC, was revoked and re-awarded to NPDC without the statutory licensing bid rounds and that the transaction was not made open.
The chairman of the committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo East), stated that it has become necessary to probe the transaction as Nigeria cannot afford another Malabu OPL 245 scandal.
Anyanwu stated that the Senate is determined to block all loopholes through which the country’s resources are being siphoned.
The senator pointed out that there is nothing wrong with inviting foreign investors into the country but their activities must not threaten local firms.
