Could NNPCL Have Paid N20bn to Ghost Consultants?

On Monday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) denied paying ghost consultants N20 billion.

This was said by GarbaDeen Muhammad, the NNPC Limited’s chief corporate communications officer, in a statement.

The NNPCL made this statement in response to accusations that claimed the business paid ghost consultants the sum of N20 billion and was complicit in the theft of multi-billion naira in tax that was owed to the Ogun state government.

In a statement, NNPC Limited claimed that as a trustworthy corporate entity, it does not employ or work with ghost consultants.

The NNPC Ltd. read a story by an online platform (Sahara Reporters) alleging paying N20 billion to ghost consultants and stealing multi-billion Naira in tax that was owed to the Ogun State government with the utmost dismay.

“With NNPC Ltd., the procedure for bringing on consultants when needed is transparent, verifiable, and compliant with international best practices.

“It is regrettable that, for whatever reason, the aforementioned online platform would level such a grave accusation, oblivious to the repercussions of such behavior. The assertion that N20 billion is missing is wholly untrue and without merit, it stated.

The NNPCL requested that the internet publication be withdrawn.

The second part of the terrible news is about the Ogun state government accusing an NNPC subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) Ltd., of owing unpaid duty taxes of around N18 billion.

“PPMC had objected and contested the allegation through its Tax Adviser, to be clear. As a result, the Ogun State Government filed a lawsuit, which is common practice in the commercial world, it added.

Mr. Muhammad stated that NNPC Limited will support its position as the case is now being proven in court.

“To sum up, NNPC Ltd urges the aforementioned online publication to think carefully about the effects of its decisions before making them.

“It is terrible that any medium can arrive at such sub judice conclusions for an issue that is already in court, as proven by the activities of the internet medium,” the business added.