Reps Threaten To Arrest Emefiele Over Alleged $17bn Undeclared Oil Sales
By Victor Ernest with agency report
House of Representatives ad hoc Committee investigating the alleged stolen 17 billion dollars oil and gas sales has summoned the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to appear before it within a week.
The money was allegedly stolen through undeclared crude oil and liquefied natural gas export.
The committee threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on Godwin Emefiele if he failed to appear within the period.
Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas, said the international oil companies allegedly involved in the deal had provided the committee documents required to commence the investigation.
Namdas expressed concern that full investigation could not begin because of the failure of CBN to give the required details.
CBN provided conflicting responses – lawmaker alleges
He alleged that CBN provided conflicting responses to its two letters of inquiry on the matter and as such the governor must appear in person to clarify issues and provide necessary details needed to facilitate the probe.
According to him, in response to the first letter of the committee, the apex bank pleaded for time due to the volume of documents required, but the bank indicated that there was no record of undeclared crude when the bank responded to their second letter.
He expressed disappointment over Emefiele’s absence without representation at the investigative hearing.
”Most of the international oil companies have furnished us with the information needed but CBN is very vital and key to this investigation and we cannot jump the gun,” he said.
The chairman however warned that the committee would invoke the law against any individual or government agency delaying the investigation.
