NNPCL Probe: Ohaneze Think Tank Calls For Investigation of Ugochinyere’s Attempts To Derail Mele Kyari’s Progress

The Ohaneze Think Tank, a pressure group based in Enugu, has called for an investigation into alleged attempts by the member of House of Representatives representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, to derail the progress made by Mele Kyari, Group CEO of NNPCL.

The group described Ugochinyere as an alleged “serial extortionist and blackmailer” who has abused his position as chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Midstream).

“Ugochinyere has grossly abused his position for reasons best known to him, but which are hardly consistent with the public interest,” said Dr. Azubuike Ajuluchukwu, Coordinator of the Ohaneze Think Tank.

In a press statement signed by Dr Azubuike Ajuluchukwu (Coordinator) and Dr Cletus Akinyili (Deputy Coordinator),
the group also called for Ugochinyere’s removal as chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Midstream), saying he has become a “monumental disgrace to the Ndigbo and a national tragedy.”

According to the group, it is heartening that after a public outcry, the House of Representatives finally dissolved the so-called committee that was supposed to investigate the frivolous allegations against the Group CEO of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, by the so-called group of 15 members of the House, making it clear that the matter should not end there.

Specifically, the group said that the scandalous committee of 15 led by Representative, Ikenga Ugochinyere must also be investigated as a deterrent, saying that Ugochinyere has grossly abused his position as chairman of the Ad-hoc House Committee on Petroleum Products for reasons best known to him but which are hardly consistent with the public interest.

The group noted that rather than facing the crucial task, the Ugochinyere-led committee jumped to a spiteful conclusion that Kyari and the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPR, Farouk Ahmed, should be sacrificed even before scratching the surface of a thorough investigation and said that it was a shame that a man who claims to be a lawyer did not think about a fair hearing.

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The group lamented that hiding under the cloak of the Deputy Spokesman of the House, Rep. Philip Agbese, Ugochinyere ignited a media agenda against the NNPCL management, feeding his colleagues in the House, especially the leadership and the general public with falsehood and a deliberate attempt to destroy Kyari’s reputation by criticising him unfairly and dishonestly to please those whose bidding he was willing to do at all cost.

“But for the swift intervention of about 120 members of the House under the aegis of “1 Agenda”, Ugochinyere and his cohorts were poised to impose their sinister agenda on the House and the Nigerian public. The only way he and people like him can learn a lesson is for them to be investigated. What is their interest in the Dangote Refinery? We align ourselves with the views of “1 Agenda” that the calls for Kyari’s removal are baseless, unfair and hypocritical”, the group said.

The group stated that he deserves commendation for his leadership and transformation of NNPC Ltd, increasing crude oil production from 800,000 bpd to 1.6 million bpd, saying that; “-We have every reason to suspect that the calls for Kyari’s removal are targeted at the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the petroleum minister”.

The group therefore, called on the House not to stop at dissolution of the adhoc committee set up to implement the scandalous agenda of Ugochinyere and his ilk but also to investigate Ugochinyere’s interest in the Dangote Refinery.

“Ugochinyere and members of his extortionist ad-hoc committee were heavily compromised during their visit to Dangote Refinery. They were desperate to justify and deliver to justify package. His shameful indiscretion was not an accident. It was a carefully orchestrated move to advance his interest”.

According to the group, “Ugochinyere as a known extortionist and blackmailer is a cog in the wheel of progress in NNPCL, pointing out; “Ugochinyere is perennially on the neck of virtually all the managements of the strategic business units (SBU) of NNPCL under his oversight engagements, blackmailing and extorting them to no end.

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“The heads of the SBU live in constant fears of Ugochinyere, who daily threaten them for their refusal to yield to his sinister and self-serving demands. Ugochinyere is inordinately looking for money, especially dollars on a daily basis and whoever refuses to accede to his dubious requests are tagged as enemies and he would threaten to deploy the instrumentality of the committee he headed in the House to deal decisively with the innocent public officers”.

The group further said that Ugochinyere has shamelessly become a monumental disgrace to the Ndigbo and a national tragedy and he should immediately be stripped of his position as chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Midstream) and be called to account for his shameful conduct, which interestingly came to light only after he visited the Dangote Refinery.

Below is the full press statement:

OHANEZE THlNK TANK, ENUGU

Investigate Ugochinyere’s Futile Attempt to Derail Progress Made by Kyari

* Probe Ugochinyere as a serial Extortionist, Blackmailer

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*PLEA FOR REMOVAL OF UGOCHINYERE AS CHAIRMAN, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PETROLEUM (MIDSTREAM)

It’s heartening that after a public outcry, the House of Representatives finally dissolved the so-called committee that was supposed to investigate the frivolous allegations against the Group CEO of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, by the so-called group of 15 members of the House.

But the matter should not end there.

That scandalous committee of 15 led by Representative Ikenga Ugochinyere must also be investigated as a deterrent.

Ugochinyere has grossly abused his position as chairman of the Ad-hoc House Committee on Petroleum Products for reasons best known to him but which are hardly consistent with the public interest.

Rather than facing the crucial task, the Ugochinyere-led committee jumped to a spiteful conclusion that Kyari and the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPR, Farouk Ahmed, should be sacrificed even before scratching the surface of a thorough investigation.

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It’s a shame that a man who claims to be a lawyer did not think about a fair hearing.

Hiding under the cloak of the Deputy Spokesman of the House, Rep. Philip Agbese, Ugochinyere ignited a media agenda against the NNPCL management, feeding his colleagues in the House, especially the leadership and the general public with falsehood and a deliberate attempt to destroy Kyari’s reputation by criticising him unfairly and dishonestly to please those whose bidding he was willing to do at all cost.

But for the swift intervention of about 120 members of the House under the aegis of “1 Agenda”, Ugochinyere and his cohorts were poised to impose their sinister agenda on the House and the Nigerian public.

The only way he and people like him can learn a lesson is for them to be investigated. What is their interest in the Dangote Refinery?

We align ourselves with the views of “1 Agenda” that the calls for Kyari’s removal are baseless, unfair and hypocritical.

He deserves commendation for his leadership and transformation of NNPC Ltd, increasing crude oil production from 800,000 bpd to 1.6 million bpd.

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We have every reason to suspect that the calls for Kyari’s removal are targeted at the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the petroleum minister.

We, therefore, call on the House not to stop at dissolution of the the adhoc committee set up to implement the scandalous agenda of Ugochinyere and his ilk but also to investigate Ugochinyere’s interest in the Dangote Refinery further!

Ugochinyere and members of his extortionist ad-hoc committee were heavily compromised during their
visit to Dangote Refinery. They were desperate to justify and deliver to justify package.

His shameful indiscretion was not an accident. It was a carefully orchestrated move to advance his interest!

Ugochinyere as a reputable extortionist and blackmailer is a cog in the wheel of progress in NNPCL. Ugochinyere is perennially on the neck of virtually all the managements of the strategic business units (SBU) of NNPCL under his oversight engagements, blackmailing and extorting them to no end. The heads of the SBU live in constant fears of Ugochinyere, who daily threaten them for their refusal to yield to his sinister and self- serving demands. Ugochinyere is inordinately looking for money, especially dollars on a daily basis and whoever refuses to accede to his dubious requests are tagged as enemies and he would threaten to deploy the instrumentality of the committee he headed in the House to deal decisively with the innocent public officers.

Ugochinyere has shamelessly become a monumental disgrace to the Ndigbo and a national tragedy.

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He should immediately be stripped of his position as chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Midstream) and be called to account for his shameful conduct, which interestingly came to light only after he visited the Dangote Refinery!

SIGNED:
DR. AZUBUIKE AJULUCHUKWU
COORDINATOR

DR. CLETUS AKINYILI
DEPUTY COORDINATOR