The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Limited has expressed dismay over a report by an online platform (Sahara Reporters) alleging that the Organisation paid the sum of N20bn to ghost consultants.
It also denied the report that it was engaged in a theft of multi-billion Naira tax due to the Ogun State Government.
The Chief Corporate Communication Officer NNPC Limited Mr Garba Deen Muhammad, in a statement, said that the NNPC Ltd as a responsible corporate organisation, does not have or deal with ghost consultants.
“At NNPC Ltd, the process of engaging consultants whenever the need arises is clear and verifiable and follow global best practices” he said.
According to Garba Deen Muhammad, It is therefore unfortunate that for whatever reason, the said online platform would make such a grievous allegation, mindless of the consequences of such actions adding that the claim of a missing N20bn is absolutely false and baseless.
“The NNPC Ltd therefore demands that Sahara Reporters retracts the said publication immediately; and going forward, the platform should verify its facts before going to press,” he advised.
On the Ogun State Government claiming a back duty tax liability of about N18bn, against an NNPC subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, PPMC Ltd, the NNPC Ltd Chief Corporate Communication Officer clarified that PPMC had objected and challenged the claim through its Tax Consultant.
Consequently, the Ogun State Government took the matter to court which is not unusual in business circles.
“The matter is currently before the court and NNPC Ltd will prove its case accordingly” he asserts..
Garba Deen further advised the said online publisher to be mindful of the consequences of its actions before taking them.
“For a matter that is already in court, as admitted by the online publication, it is sad that any medium can arrive at such subjudice conclusions as shown by the actions of the online medium” he warned.
Confidence Okwuchi
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