• President meets with Wamakko

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja


There are indications that the presidency has initiated moves to avert the indictment of the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, by the Senate ad hoc committee charged with investigating him for awarding contracts to the tune of $25 billion without recourse to the NNPC board of directors.

The nine-man committee chaired by Senator Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto, APC) is charged with investigating Baru over the allegations raised against him in a letter by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The allegations included insubordination and keeping the NNPC board chaired by Kachikwu in the dark in the award of contracts and promotion of senior executives of NNPC.

However, Baru in his response to the letter, which was leaked on social media, dismissed the allegations, saying he did not need the approval of the board, as all the contracts went through the NNPC Tenders Board, got No Objections from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and were approved by the president.

But he failed to address the issue of his appointment of senior executives of NNPC without obtaining the approval of the corporation’s board.

The ensuing furore over Kachikwu’s memo prompted the Senate to mandate an inquiry into the allegations raised in the memo and to carry out a holistic investigation into the finances of the NNPC.

The Senate ad hoc committee was supposed to hold its inaugural meeting Tuesday at noon but the meeting was postponed to next Tuesday without any reasons proffered for the postponement.

A highly placed source, however, informed THISDAY that Buhari met with Wamakko Tuesday evening to lobby the committee to give Baru a soft landing.

The meeting was still ongoing as of 6.54 p.m.
The source explained that the president was prevailed upon to personally meet with Wamakko instead of delegating the assignment to any of his aides.

“Wamakko has a reputation for being firm and straightforward. Obviously, many senators were certain of his handling of the probe with him at the helm of the committee, because he would say it as it is.

“That is why the president’s aides convinced him (Buhari) to personally meet with Wamakko to ensure that the message is clear. If not, he would have delegated someone like Abba Kyari (the president’s chief of staff), or even any of the party leaders,” the source said.

The source was emphatic that the motive behind the meeting was to ensure that Baru is not indicted by the committee and to prevent a recommendation for his removal from office.

“The motive of the meeting is to ensure that Baru is not indicted because that would make the Senate committee recommend his removal.

“Of course, most Nigerians already believe he was appointed for certain purposes and with Kyari on the board of NNPC, and the president himself as the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources, the purpose is clear.

“So the issue now is to make sure the ‘purpose’ is not scuttled,” the source added.

Speaking further, the source observed that even Kachikuwu seemed to be recanting on the clarity of the allegations he levelled against Baru in his memo to the president.

“Kachikwu is now saying he did not say anything about corruption, but that he raised the issue of governance. Baru then said that the contracts were approved by the president.

“But perhaps because of the constitutionality of any action by a president on vacation, Osinbajo (the vice-president) then said that he approved and added that he signed loans, not contracts.

“All this confusion is simply because the presidency is trying to put its house in order over the matter, but they also realise the need to tighten loose ends at the Senate,” the source said.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/10/18/kachikwus-letter-presidency-lobbies-senate-cttee-seeks-soft-landing-for-baru/

Imagine a government that rode to power on a phantom anti-corruption mantra always seeking"soft landing"for it own indicted for corruption.From the numerous corruption scandals involving both the execute/legislators,budget padding,Unremitted oil proceeds,Lawal Babachir/Ayo NIA Ikoyi billions and the mother of all corruption:$26 NNPC scandal .Chai! Any surprise the antigraft war have become a comic theatrics? God punish whosoever that talk about corruption fight again in Nigeria as long as APC is concerned.

[/b]"“Kachikwu is now saying he did not say anything about corruption, but that he raised the issue of governance. Baru then said that the contracts were approved by the president."[b] Then a constitutional illegality have been committed by Buhari on his sick bed because he has handover power to the VP and Nigeria can't have two presidents at a time.So the useless NASS is supposed to have commenced impeachment proceedings against the president by now.

a terrorist in power will always defend one of it own.

I hope the issue is not silently swept under the carpet

Yes, buhari is a saint and he is effectively fighting corruption its only Igbos & Ipob are against him~~ Zombies. Sai Barber until the zoo collapses on our heads!!!

Naija I hail

Yet zombies still believe that the zoo will get better. They keep wondering why they are suffering, well you all deserve what is happening in this worthless zoo of a country.

I don't even know what to say again concerning this Buhari and his love for corruption, he has turned our amiable VP into a liar and even the great jagaban has started wailing small small... Buhari has single handedly turned Dieziani and co into angels with his brand of corruption... Tufiakwa

this not news to me.....

Buhari is shielding corrupt elements in his administration.

confirmed news?

k

It's just a matter of time before Buharist and Buhari starts shouting fake news like Trump and his deplorables. The right of the press must be censored, ThisDay is fake news. Back to the matter if Buhari actually did that he is an ọdẹ, anonymous source Sometimes doesn't learn credence news

Nigeria's level of corruption is irredeemable.

K

You See this man Buhari is the worst thing to happen to this country. Baru didn't deny the contract, he even said he got approval from Buhari but Buhari was on medical leave in London then which makes it a very serious and grave offence but Baru is still in office till today. I hate the incompetent and nepotistic Muhammed Buhari.


May God bless Dr Nnandi Azikiwe
May God bless Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi
May God bless Gen. Yakubu Gowon
May God bless Murtala Muhammad
May God bless Olusegun Obasanjo
May God bless Alhaji Shehu Shagari
May God bless IBB
May God bless Ernest Shonekan
May God bless Gen. Sani Abacha
May God bless Abdulsalami Abubakar
May God bless Alhaji Umaru Musa Ya'radua
May God bless Dr Goodluck Jonathan

May devil punish the incompetent, nepotistic and divisive one called muhammed Buhari. Buhari, you will not end well

S

Abeg Na another new style of fighting corruption ni....isssokay....*pocket watching from d sideline*

Na so

Kachukwu attempting to fight Mr. Kati-Kati will backfire

He is a northerner, high caste and a cabal-in-council member

No case

This guy's have succeeded in breaking the corruption record of PDP.

My concern is not that Jubril is not corrupt, my greatest worry is the fools that will go home empty handed defending the dreg

ok

I thought Baru did nothing wrong. Why the soft landing?

APC is the most corrupt party I have ever seen. Nigeria I hail thee.

May thunder fire d mouth of anyone screaming dis govt is fighting corruption or d fingers typing it.. Dis govt is Corruption and abuse of power personified.. D President is fully aware of every corrupt act perpetrated by members of d govt becos dey have his approval

I still never know wetin to write.

Just here to see how zombies'll defend their pay masters or better still avoid this tread like plague.


that barawo called Baru eyaaf stole our yam and still wana cheat karma but kolewerk

This is the most corrupt govt ever. Hope they lose in 2019 so all is revealed the extent of looting on Mr integrity's watch.

modelmike7:
confirmed news?

Always denying the stark reality.