Lawmaker, Marie Ebikake disagrees with Committee’s NNPCL directive

Marie Ebikake, the House of Representatives member for the Brass-Nembe Federal Constituency, has expressed her views on the forensic investigation being conducted on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) by the Petroleum (Midstream Downstream) Joint Committee.

She clarified that the media’s portrayal of the committee’s directive concerning NNPCL’s audit does not accurately reflect its actual stance.

On Wednesday, the Special Joint Committee instructed NNPCL to cease what it referred to as jeopardizing Nigeria’s future crude oil until their investigation is complete.

It is worth noting that this committee, led by Ikenga Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato South and Ideato North Federal Constituency in Imo State, began its inquiry into questionable activities within the sector last week.

Following reports that NNPCL intends to secure an additional $2 billion in crude oil-backed loans from international lenders to enhance its financial resources, the committee issued a directive.

However, in a statement released on Friday and shared with NIGERIA NEWS 247, Ebikake distanced herself from this directive directed at the national oil company.

The statement expressed concern over a recent publication attributed to some members that directly contradicts the stance of the Petroleum (Midstream & Downstream) Joint Committee regarding the ongoing forensic investigation into NNPCL’s operations.

Ebikake stated her confusion about the relevance of sections 88 and 89 of Nigeria’s amended constitution concerning their duties as representatives of the public.

She criticized any press release supposedly from a group of 50 lawmakers as damaging and divisive, undermining their credibility as elected officials during a critical time for national stability.

Ebikake argued that parliamentary traditions should not prioritize protecting heads of agencies over safeguarding citizens’ interests, which she believes is the primary duty of parliamentarians.

Therefore, she firmly declared her disassociation from the decision made by this group and affirmed that Ugochinyere’s joint committee truly reflects the collective interests of their constituents and aligns with presidential goodwill.