The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Wednesday said two oil contracts worth N640 billion were granted approval by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo while he was acting President, Premium Times reports.
Background:
- Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu had written a memo to President Muhammadu Buhari, where he accused Baru of $26bn contract scam.
- Kachikwu also accused the NNPC boss of insubordination and sidelining him from important decisions.
- Following the leakage of the memo, President Buhari had held a meeting with the Minister at the Presidential Villa.
- Baru had also responded to the allegations, stating that no law mandates him to discuss contracts with Kachikwu.
What NNPC said:
Spokesperson of the NNPC, Ndu Ughamadu said “Acting President Yemi Osinbajo gave the approval.”
Recall that a critical analysis of the NNPC reply to Kachikwu showed that NNPC received presidential approvals for at least two contract awards during the time President Muhammadu Buhari was on medical leave in London.
The statement said NNPC received presidential approvals for two oil contracts on July 10 and July 31 worth $1 billion and $780 million, respectively, while Buhari was on medical leave.
When quizzed further, Ughamadu added, “Presidential approval is presidential approval.”
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