PTI Denies N600 Million Fraud, Contract Racketeering Allegations

The management of Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), has debunked allegations of corrupt practices and contract racketeering leveled against it by Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), PTI Branch.

The denial was contained in a statement signed by Brown A. Ukanefimoni, Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the institution and made available to BIGPEN on Monday.

While dismissing the allegations as ‘baseless and unfounded’, the management, in the statement said, “ordinarily, we do not want to join issues with PENGASSAN since we are not on Press trial.

But Describing the press release issued by PENGASSAN PTI branch as “reckless allegations against the Iyuke’s led Management”, the statement said that all the allegations were calculated attempts to bring the Management to disrepute among the right thinking members of the public.

The statement, however, warned any person or group of persons hiding under the auspices of the Union, to drag the name of the Institute into disrepute to be wary of the law of slander and libel that would be deployed to check such unverifiable allegations.

Meanwhile, an investigation panel has since been constituted to look into the allegations, the statement added while urging the general public to await the outcome of the investigations before casting aspersions on the management.

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To set the record straight, the Institute’s Management state as follows:

That, the PTI Management has never been caught in the web of financial embezzlement from the Institute’s account, not to mention a whopping sum of 600m as alleged by the union.

That, the allegation of massive fraud and corruption where management was alleged to have withdrawn monies recklessly from PTI account is false and a figment of imagination of mischief makers.

That, Management at no time withdrew 286million naira to offset the bills of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue. Management wishes to challenge anyone with such proof.

That, the issue of contract racketeering is an unfounded and baseless clue purported by agents of strife and destabilization on a mission to truncate the good works of Prof. Iyuke. To boot, Management has always followed Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) guidelines in the award of contracts.

That, at no time has the Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA) used his personal account to launder Institute’s funds for self-aggrandizement as well as undermine the capabilities and integrity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) or any other government agencies in curbing financial malpractices.

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That, Management remits the deductions of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) from her employees to the various Agencies responsible for providing such services.

That, the same can also be said of Management’s full compliance of remittances of employees’ Pension contributions to their various Pension Fund Administrators.

That, Management wishes to debunk the allegation of raised payment voucher using dead and retired staff to embezzle funds,was pernicious,  calculated attempt to frame and discredit the Principal and Chief Executive, Prof. Sunny E. Iyuke.

“In conclusion, Management wishes to inform the general public to kindly wait for the outcome of the investigations before casting aspersions on the Management.

“Consequently, Management wishes to advise any person or group of persons hiding under the auspices of the Union, attempting to drag the name of the Institute into disrepute, to in his or her best interest desist from this nefarious act as it is tantamount to slander and libel.

“Since Prof. Sunny Iyuke’sled Management came on stream in 2016, has always placed employees’ welfare as its top priority, hence facts and figures had it that no employee at the time of issuing this press release is owed any entitlement.

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“Besides, the Institute has been transformed in terms of infrastructural development and Academic Quality Programmes to meet the need of the oil and gas Sector”.