Daud Olatunji
Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream). Ugochinyere Ikenga, has allegedly warned of dire consequences if he is removed from his position.
Ikenga claimed to have paid a substantial $1.7 million to secure his chairmanship.
The tension within the House of Representatives centers around the joint committee set up to investigate the ongoing crisis among Dangote Refinery, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and other stakeholders in the oil sector.
Sources indicate that Ikenga has allegedly taken control of the committee’s operations, bypassing the co-chairman, Hon. Prince Okogie, and unilaterally signing documents meant for joint endorsement.
According to insiders, the discord intensified when Ikenga directed the committee to halt NNPCL’s plans to secure $2 billion in funding from the open market.
This directive, deemed premature by most committee members due to insufficient facts, was met with strong opposition.
The majority urged restraint, advocating a press conference only after the joint committee had convened, a suggestion that Ikenga reportedly dismissed.
Further controversy arose within the committee’s WhatsApp group, ‘Joint Mainstream Downstream Committee,’ where Ikenga faced accusations of receiving funds from Dangote Refinery to influence the investigation.
Lawmakers demanded his replacement with a neutral party, alleging bias and premeditated actions favouring Dangote Refinery.
The friction reached a peak when Ikenga allegedly drafted a favourable report for Dangote, seeking committee members’ endorsement, which they unanimously rejected.
Ikenga escalated the conflict by sponsoring 15 lawmakers to call for the suspension of NNPCL and NMDPRA management, a move condemned by Okogie and other committee leaders, who formally distanced themselves from such statements.
This manoeuvre led to a backlash from committee members who accused Ikenga of exploiting his position for personal gain, reminiscent of past incidents involving Governor Fubara.
The turmoil culminated in the resignation of Prince Okogie, the deputy chairman, and other committee members on Sunday night, protesting Ikenga’s perceived hijacking of the committee’s functions.
Members lamented their exclusion from vital interactions with NNPCL and other regulatory bodies, attributing their marginalisation to Ikenga’s monopolisation of committee affairs.
Despite efforts to remove Ikenga, his alleged boasts of spending $1.7 million to secure his chairmanship have stymied these attempts.
Reports suggest Ikenga threatened Speaker Tajudeen Abbas with explosive revelations that could destabilise the nation if he were removed from his position.
In a further twist, Ikenga purportedly threatened to incite a crisis within the House of Representatives if ousted, asserting the necessity of his role to finance a future gubernatorial campaign in Imo State.
Consequently, the Speaker has discreetly dissolved the joint committee, though this decision remains undisclosed to the broader assembly.
NNPCL staff have also raised alarms over Ikenga’s aggressive tactics, alleging harassment for petroleum allocations and contract awards.
They accuse him of using his position to secure undue favours and pressuring management for lucrative deals.
As the investigation proceeds, NNPCL management has expressed readiness to testify under oath, provided the committee guarantees impartiality.
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