Absence Of Documents Stalls Hearing On Oil Transaction

The absence of vital documents from some key government
agencies in Abuja has stalled an investigative hearing on a transaction
involving the Federal Government, Shell, Agip oil companies and Malabu oil and
gas, over the alleged shady sale of one billion dollar OPL 245 oil block.

It would be recalled
that on May 31, the House at plenary session mandated an ad hoc
committee to investigate issues surrounding the alleged shady transaction.

The agencies involved are, Ministry of Petroleum Resources,
Office of the Accountant- General of the Federation ( AGF) and the Ministry of
Finance.

Following the absence of the documents, Rep. Leo Ogor
(PDP-Delta), the Deputy Majority leader and chairman of the committee adjourned
the hearing till further notice.

“We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that this
investigative hearing might not be properly handled if theses facts and figures
that we are looking for are not before us,” he said.

He said that the agencies needed to be at the hearing with
their position papers that would help the committee in carrying out its job.

“We, therefore, shift this hearing and as soon as we get the
documents from them, we will definitely fix a new date and communicate to you,
“he said.

Earlier, Ogor warned that oil companies operating in the
country must do so within the confines of the law.

Ogor said that the House had made probity, transparency and
accountability as one of its cardinal objectives.

He said that the House has resolved to ensure that government
agencies and their officials conducted themselves in the best ways that could
portray government in good light.

The lawmaker said the House was prepared to enact laws that
would enhance the performance of government agencies and its officials.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, who was represented by the deputy
speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, said that the hearing was convened as a result of
petitions received by the House from the public.

Tambuwal noted that well thought out government policies had
failed to impact on the lives of the citizens, because of faulty implementation
by officials in positions.

He said that the House and the National Assembly in general
would ensure that all Oil companies operating in the country operated in tandem
with the its laws.

Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources,
who was at the hearing, told the committee that the ministry did not come with
any position paper because it did not receive any letter.

She said that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)
was the agency responsible for the alleged transaction, and ought to have made
all the needed information available to the committee.

However, she promised to make the documents required
available to the committee on Thursday.