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Reps Grill MRS, Emadeb, Jay Maikifi, Others Over Bad Fuel
The House of Representatives, yesterday, began the probe of importers and suppliers over the contaminated fuel that has caused chaos and scarcity across the country.
The House grilled two companies, MRS and a consortium of four companies, including Emadeb, Hyde, Jay Maikifi and Brittania-U, who were fingered as the suppliers of the fuel by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company(NNPC) Limited.
Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) handling the probe, Hon Abdullahi Gaya, at the session, said the probe as mandated by the House was necessary to ascertain the circumstances of the importation of the toxic fuel and evolve measures to forestall future occurrence.
Appearing before the committee, MRS denied importing contaminated fuel into the country.
Represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Amina Maina, the company said they were certified by NNPC on the importation.
“We received a letter, inviting us to this public hearing in regards to the alleged contamination of fuel imported into the country. So, that’s the reason why we are here.
“We are here to clarify the issues regarding the importation of fuel. I think the MD of NNPC was here, and he did clarify that the fuel which we imported was not out of the specification or adulterated.
“Yes, there has been a lot of conversations regarding whether or not we brought in fuel which is contaminated.
“Let me state that there is an approved specification of PMS which is imported into Nigeria.
“That specification is in the product we brought in. And I think the GMD of NNPC, attested to the fact that the product which we brought was tested, and it met Nigeria’s specifications.
“On arrival, it was tested by the NNPC inspectors, and it met the specification before the vessel was discharged.
“The normal procedure is that the NDMPR would normally have their own inspectors to test and certify what was discharged, and all of that was done, and certified Ok before the vessel was discharged.
“So, we did not bring in any adulterated fuel,” Maina said.
In his ruling, Gaya asked the company to produce all relevant documents backing up their oral presentation.
“I think in our letter we said you should give us all relevant documents from the beginning to the end.
“Honourable colleagues, this is just to engage the NNPC and the downstream for them to explain and give us documents.
“We have already informed them that after going through the documents, we are going to invite them again to come, so that if we have any other thing to verify, they will have to tell us.
“For now, it is just for them to explain and give us the document. If there is need to call her back, then, we will call her back,” he said.
Also testifying before the panel, the leader of the Consortium, including Emadeb, Hyde, Jay Maikifi and Brittania-U, Mr. Adebowale Olujimi, said that Britannia-U handled the importation.
He said: “On June 16, 2021, the Consortium members executed a consortium agreement, which defined the rotational responsibilities of members, sequential alternate crude lifting/petroleum product delivery and indemnification of other members against liabilities, claims, etc., that may arise during a member’s underperformance or failure to perform under the DSDP contract.
“The Consortium was awarded the DSDP contract on June 22, 2021 by NNPC.
“The delivery of the petroleum product and crude lifting have been done strictly on a rotational basis by the respective consortium members.
“Some of the Consortium members – Emadeb/Hyde and AY Maikifi— immediately engaged a reputable international company for delivery of all PMS cargoes and prompt loading of crude oil; while Brittania-U chose to engage a different entity for her own supplies.
“Brittania-U also preferred to liaise directly with NNPC and took responsibility for all her transactions without recourse to the other consortium members.
“All evidence to substantiate Brittania-U’s position are attached for references.
“The other consortium members — Emadeb/Hyde and AY Maikifi— have successfully delivered 270,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), while Brittania-U also delivered 90,000MT PMS.
“The PMS alleged to be Methanol-Blended was solely delivered by Brittania-U via MT Torm Hilde in January, 2022.
“The other Consortium members — Emadeb/Hyde and AY Maikifi — were not privy to the arrangements for the delivery of the aforementioned PMS and documentary evidence relating to the PMS.”
Explaining herself to the panel on the circumstances of the importation, the Chief Executive Officer, Brittania-U, Uju Ifejirika, said that their product met the approved specification.
“We have a DSDP contract with NNPC. We have done that for two and half years. This is our 10th cargo and none of our cargos were off-spec, and this particular one was not off-spec.
“Before a cargo will come in, there will be a test at the port of loading which they did.
“Whoever that is importing for us, we must give that document to them, and based on that, they will do their own sample and our supplier do their sample, and they gave us the sample result, which we handed over to NNPC and NNPC confirmed it was Ok.
“Now, the second point of test; the cargo arrived at offshore, Lagos, the vessel tendered NOR.
“We transmitted that to NNPC, and they now appointed their inspector. That’s GMO while we have SEBOD. They now went offshore to test the product.
“When they finished testing the product, there is a joint certificate given by GMO, that is NNPC-nominated cargo inspector and our own.
“You can’t bring in the cargo without NNPC inspector jointly carrying out the test, and we presented it and it met specification. NNPC tested and gave us certificate, saying that the product met specification.
“Our product came in 4th of January, and there is no state that 77million litres will not finish it in our week.
“The normal legal position is that when you bring in a cargo and it moves from mother vessel to daughter vessel, custody transfers and at that point, we do not have any legal control over the product. And we have all our certificates.
“Now, they are saying that we brought in off-spec. At what point? You cannot have 90,000 metric tons and you came out with a press release on the February8, which was more than a month after this project came in.
“Did anybody call us? Was there any joint test between us and the NNPC? There was none.
“They did an independent inspection. What is the test result? We don’t have the test result as we speak today.
“We have all our documents and it met the Nigerian specification,” Ifejirika said.
Ruling on the matter, Gaya asked her to tender all relevant documents detailing her presentation.
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene
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