Sanomi “Emphatically” Denies Being In Any Alleged Scuffle With Petroleum Minister, Kachikwu Over Failed Oil Deal, Says “Embarrassing” Report Handiwork Of Detractors

Mr. Igho Sanomi, the chairman of Taleveras Energy, has “emphatically” denied his alleged involvement in “bribery scandal” in which it was alleged he was spurring for war over some failed oil deal with Petroleum Minister, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu and his younger brother, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu.

A London based Public Relations firm, Nylon  which contacted BigPen Online on Wednesday over a report in the news website, claimed that Sanomi never authorized any report and have no transaction with “Ibe Kachikwu” whatsoever to warrant any “dirty fight” as reported.

A report which was originally stream by THEWILL but was later taken down had alleged that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, and his brother, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu are currently in trouble over involvement in a bribery scandal that may further put to test the Buhari administration’s mouthed mantra of zero tolerance for corruption.

The report said that all is not well between the Kachikwu brothers and their erstwhile ally, Mr. Igho Sanomi, the chairman of Taleveras Oil, following the Minister’s inability to deliver oil contracts to the businessman as agreed after allegedly receiving over a billion naira in kickbacks.

The brewing crisis in the scandal is that the Kachikwus are unwilling to return the kickbacks, which Sanomi paid partly in naira and some choice properties in Maitama-Abuja and Banana Island-Lagos.

Sources knowledgeable about the development disclosed that Sanomi has been pressuring the Kachikwus to return his monies and houses that were transferred to the Minister upfront through Dumebi to facilitate oil contracts while he served as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

It was learnt that a total payments to the Minister, who hitherto doubled as the NNPC boss, from Sanomi are estimated to be close to N2 billion as at when the shady deal was consummated, insiders say.

The classified report which was first reported by THEWILL and was reproduced by this Newspaper website , had named Mr. Sanomi and his company, Taleveras as one those that funneled hundreds of millions of naira into an investment account controlled by Dumebi in one of Nigeria’s oldest banks from where private accounts controlled by the Minister were credited with chunks of the bribes.

But Sindy Foster, the Managing Director of Nylon marketing however said that Sanomi and Taleveras who are his clients have had no dealings with Ibe Kachikwu at no point in time.

She said that the original story was a complete fabrication and handiwork of detractors and competitors.

Foster however confirmed that there is ongoing court case involving Sanomi, Taleveras as well as the Petroleum Minister’s brother, Dumebi Kachikwu but not as reported.

She didn’t give details of the ongoing commercial litigation saying it would be sub judice to speak on it.

“This story originating from… is completely fabricated. My clients, Igho Sanomi and Taleveras have had no dealings with Ibe Kachikwu at all.

“I can confirm that there is an on going commercial litigation in relation to Dumebi Kachikwu but certainly not as reported. But we can’t discuss details of the case as it would be sub judice.

“We have no clue where this allegation has come from. But it is my personal belief that Mr Sanomi is a victim of a deliberate and malicious smear campaign.

…. He (Sanomi) believes we need to take legal action to stem this constant onslaught that we are facing from unidentified 3rd parties who are using the media to attack an innocent man”, she said.