On February 28, 2012, the Honourable Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dieziano Alison-Madueke instituted the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, PRSTF, to support the Federal Government’s probity and accountability in the Petroleum Sector.
Nigerians have been waiting eagerly for the outcome of the report of the Committee headed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the Economic and FinancialCrimes Commission, EFCC.
It is shocking and disappointing that while Nigerians have waited for the report to be released without prejudice, the Committee has now been divided, putting the integrity of the report to be submitted to the President on Friday into question.
More disheartening is the fact that some members of the committee are now saying that the necessary levels and procedures to identify figures, facts and information to check accuracy has not been followed.
A very respected member of the Committee who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and a member of the Report Writing Sub-Committee claimed in The Sun Newspaper of October 31, 2012 that the committee has not received, reviewed or revised and submitted a preliminary report fort the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.
As we receive this shocking development while holding our conference on how to move Nigeria forward, we make bold to state that the report seem to have been politicized and compromised and as such lost its credibility even before it is received by President Goodluck Jonathan. Certain members from indication are now using the Report for political purposes to the detriment of the Nigerian people.
It is in the light of the above that we call on the Honourable Minister for petroleum Resources to as a matter of urgency reject the reports in its entirety, reconstitute another committee comprising of people without political ambition, members of the civil society and credible Nigerians who would do a thorough probe without prejudice, bias and premeditated conclusion.
We as members of coalition of the Civil Society groups in Nigeria believe that since the Petroleum sector is the major source of revenues to the country, those who have short-changed the Nigerian people in that sector must be made to face the full wrath of the law irrespective of their status in the society.
Alhaji Babanagari Suleiman Sanya Adesua
Secretary Chairman
Northern Zone Yoruba Development League
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