NNPC Denies Allegation of Stolen Nigerian Crude Oil in China
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) weekend insisted that no stolen Nigerian crude oil was shipped to China as alleged by officials of a Mexican firm.
Officials of Samano Sa De CV had alleged that 48 million barrels of crude oil was stolen and shipped to China.
The company had in making the allegation written the NNPC to demand for payment of five per cent of the value of the oil for exposing the deal.
Samano was said to have contacted some federal government officials saying it was approached in China by the oil thieves to buy the 48 million barrels of crude.
However, the Corporation denied the allegation, explaining that the officials had first written to say that they had approached the group to buy the stolen oil, but later said it was no longer interested.
The company, according to a statement from NNPC said it only blew the deal to help the Buhari administration in the fight against corruption.
The corporation while insisting that the claim of Samano was deliberate falsehood described the company as a group of international crime syndicate.
Solicitors to NNPC, Afe Babalola and Co, said there are moves to sue to company.
According to the NNPC, “For context, as of 2015, the daily production of crude oil in Nigeria was below 1.6 million barrels. Therefore, 48 million barrels of crude oil would have been the total production capacity of the country for a whole month.
“It was and remains simply impossible for one-month crude oil production for the entire country to disappear without any record or trace from the shores of the country.
“NNPC was also aware that as at the material time and considering the fact that the People’s Republic of China is one of the most regulated economies in the world, the export of crude oil from Nigeria to China was exclusively undertaken by four known companies approved by, under the control, ownership, and management of the Chinese government.
“It would, therefore, have been impossible to transport 48 million barrels of crude oil from Nigeria to China without the active involvement of the said companies. Again, from an economic perspective, it made little sense that anyone would store that volume of crude oil in China for such a considerable period having regard to the attendant significant storage costs.”
“Notwithstanding the failure of Samano to produce verifiable evidence in support of its allegations, for completeness, relevant officials were mandated to pay an in-person visit to China and further investigate Samano’s claim.
“During this fact-finding trip to China, it was discovered that Samano’s claim was false as there were no 48 million barrels of stolen Nigerian crude oil or any stolen Nigerian crude oil in any port, terminal or storage facility in China.
“It was also discovered that all the documents previously presented by Samano in support of its claims were not genuine. A report of this finding was issued by the committee to Mr. President.
“Consequently, the federal government terminated all communications with Samano as it became apparent that its claim was a hoax.
“Samano made several demands, including the demand that it be paid the sum of $125,000,000:00 by the government officials to prevent it from disclosing this false information to the public.
“During its investigation, the Nigerian Police discovered that Samano is part of a notorious crime syndicate that habitually intimidates, blackmails, and defrauds government officials and other high-profile persons.
“For instance, it was discovered that Mr. Ramirez, Samano’s representative, was indicted by the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Texas as the mastermind of a scheme leading to the loss of several millions of dollars through various mail and wire frauds between 2010 and 2013.
“The police became aware that Mr. Ramirez fled the United States of America and settled in Nigeria where he continued his criminal activities in conjunction with Samano and its managing director.”
Source: THISDAY Newspaper..
Officials of Samano Sa De CV had alleged that 48 million barrels of crude oil was stolen and shipped to China.
The company had in making the allegation written the NNPC to demand for payment of five per cent of the value of the oil for exposing the deal.
Samano was said to have contacted some federal government officials saying it was approached in China by the oil thieves to buy the 48 million barrels of crude.
However, the Corporation denied the allegation, explaining that the officials had first written to say that they had approached the group to buy the stolen oil, but later said it was no longer interested.
The company, according to a statement from NNPC said it only blew the deal to help the Buhari administration in the fight against corruption.
The corporation while insisting that the claim of Samano was deliberate falsehood described the company as a group of international crime syndicate.
Solicitors to NNPC, Afe Babalola and Co, said there are moves to sue to company.
According to the NNPC, “For context, as of 2015, the daily production of crude oil in Nigeria was below 1.6 million barrels. Therefore, 48 million barrels of crude oil would have been the total production capacity of the country for a whole month.
“It was and remains simply impossible for one-month crude oil production for the entire country to disappear without any record or trace from the shores of the country.
“NNPC was also aware that as at the material time and considering the fact that the People’s Republic of China is one of the most regulated economies in the world, the export of crude oil from Nigeria to China was exclusively undertaken by four known companies approved by, under the control, ownership, and management of the Chinese government.
“It would, therefore, have been impossible to transport 48 million barrels of crude oil from Nigeria to China without the active involvement of the said companies. Again, from an economic perspective, it made little sense that anyone would store that volume of crude oil in China for such a considerable period having regard to the attendant significant storage costs.”
“Notwithstanding the failure of Samano to produce verifiable evidence in support of its allegations, for completeness, relevant officials were mandated to pay an in-person visit to China and further investigate Samano’s claim.
“During this fact-finding trip to China, it was discovered that Samano’s claim was false as there were no 48 million barrels of stolen Nigerian crude oil or any stolen Nigerian crude oil in any port, terminal or storage facility in China.
“It was also discovered that all the documents previously presented by Samano in support of its claims were not genuine. A report of this finding was issued by the committee to Mr. President.
“Consequently, the federal government terminated all communications with Samano as it became apparent that its claim was a hoax.
“Samano made several demands, including the demand that it be paid the sum of $125,000,000:00 by the government officials to prevent it from disclosing this false information to the public.
“During its investigation, the Nigerian Police discovered that Samano is part of a notorious crime syndicate that habitually intimidates, blackmails, and defrauds government officials and other high-profile persons.
“For instance, it was discovered that Mr. Ramirez, Samano’s representative, was indicted by the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Texas as the mastermind of a scheme leading to the loss of several millions of dollars through various mail and wire frauds between 2010 and 2013.
“The police became aware that Mr. Ramirez fled the United States of America and settled in Nigeria where he continued his criminal activities in conjunction with Samano and its managing director.”
Source: THISDAY Newspaper..
FOLLOW US
About Post Author
