The House of Representatives has summoned AGIP Oil Company to appear before it on June 26 over an alleged N80 million owed to De Cooon Services Ltd.
The Chairman Committee on Public Petition, Michael Etaba, who gave out the summons expressed displeasure over non-payment and the non-appearance of AGIP oil at its investigative hearing in Abuja.
The committee said that not paying an indigenous company for a job well done and patronizing foreigners for the same job was unfortunate.
The committee also noted that the act was capable of frustrating indigenous contractors, stating that it would not augur well to drive Nigeria out of business while encouraging foreigners.
The committee said it was high time Nigerians began to take themselves seriously.
Speaking on the issue, a member of the committee, Matthew Nwogu, said that the non-appearance of AGIP was disrespectful.
“It’s unfortunate that people who are supposed to be accountable to Nigerians are not.
“When a committee like this is mandated by the constitution to handle issues concerning the lives of Nigerians, it summons an organization, but the refusal should call for worry.
“I don’t know who is protecting who, but no one is above the law; the only people who have immunity are the governor and president,” Nwogu said.
De Coon is an indigenous company, run by Professor Nelson Onubogu, the managing director and chief executive officer of the company.
In his response, Professor Onubogu said that the invitation was well advertised in the media, noting that AGIP deliberately shunned the public hearing.
He said that the matter started more than five years ago and that a situation where a Nigerian company was being strangled by an Italian firm was unfortunate.
According to him, “they owe my company over 80 million dollars paid by NNPCL. The NNPCL has paid the money, but it was diverted out of Nigeria.
“AGIP Oil Company used some cronies to take this money out of Nigeria, and they refused to pay the Nigerian company.
“AGIP took all my cancelled contracts and gave them to my own staff while they were working for me.
“All I am saying here is that AGIP should pay my money; AGIP should be mandated by the NNPCL to pay my money.
He, however, said that he would not settle for anything other than to get his full money.
“I don’t believe in middle ground; the right thing should be done; they are owing me, and they should pay my money and restore all my contracts as awarded to me,” he said.
He said he was ready for a peaceful resolution of the impasse, provided AGIP obeyed, as no one could tell him to forgo his money.
Professor Onubogu added that he believed that justice would be done in the matter.
Confidence Okwuchi
