MELE KYARI'S CORRUPTION CASES ALLIGIANCE TO BUHARI CABAL SABOTAGE AND DESPERATE MOVE FOR ANOTHER TERM

The first and current Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has continued to employ a potion of lies and misinformation and tact to cover his corrupt undertakings in Nigeria's Oil and Gas sector. He has an aptitude in the art of fraud/deceit in the last four years in office. He has compromised corporate governance. He has continued to act and dance in the gallery. To perfect his plans, he continued to exhibit extraordinary energy in state functions outside the mandate of NNPCL, aimed at appeasing the Presidency by all means at all costs. All this is to distract Tinubu's attention from his past corruption schemes and also to gain favour for another term.

However, there has never been crimes without tracks the world over. He is a musketeer who dances naked in public. He poses to the public as an upright administrator. Meanwhile, his corruption imprints are unprecedented. He is being referred to; as the cat with nine lives, considering how he was spared by security, law enforcement, and anti-corruption agencies during former president Muhammadu Buhari's regime. Given that, some members of the cabal were his key benefactors, he became their adopted son, and his/their enormous corrupt practices are shielded to date. Paradoxically, the cabal, that hitherto fought President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's quest for Presidency has strategically left a "son" behind, and the milking continues.

Now, to him, as he still occupies the seat, is an opportunity to consolidate. He travels to all places that matter, armed to the teeth, with his briefcase, reaching and holding nocturnal meetings with all persons of influence with unfettered access to the presidency, to secure another term as GCEO NNPCL. It was gathered from impeccable sources within and outside the corridor of power that Kyari was deploying his past corruption to get the deal done.

In the same vein, it was discovered that Kyari didn't leave the President's closest/trusted aides aside. He is doing all of this to perfect a whole concept deal on his mission. Away from that, to sway public attention. He is engaging with multiple investors to partner with NNPCL. He engineered the launching of IPP in Gwagwalada, and recently, NNPCL under Kyari secured a $3bn Afreximbank loan to stabilize the Naira. WHAT A SACM! Meanwhile, according to reputable sources, Kyari and his accomplices approached the Bank for $5bn, but sensing indices of fraud, the Bank was careful of Kyari's antics, reducing the loan to $3bn with strict terms of agreement and later after dd cancelled the loan approach.
Similarly, away from his constitutional mandate, Kyari was conspicuously sighted amongst the group of Islamic religious leaders on a mission to broker peace and restore democratic rule in the Niger Republic.
All these are not only to woo Mr President and gain his trust and confidence but also to prove that he can deliver if given another opportunity to serve. This is to justify the recommendations of his past and new benefactors to get Mr. President's approval.

Interestingly, this was a man in the recent past who was enmeshed in a series of sermons and invitations by the leadership of the National Assembly and anti-corruption agencies over lingering corruption allegations and indictments. Bribery has swirled around him like an ominous storm cloud, casting doubt on his actions and integrity. It has become expedient for God and the country to unravel the intricate corruption strings that ensnared Kyari, a journey through the murky waters of political maneuvering and corporate entanglements. We shall untie the thread of connivance, trace the steps, and navigate the complex battleground where the truth and deception collide.

Furthermore, this is a revelation of unmasking Kyari's corruption exploits, a tale of unravelling deception and the pursuit of transparency in a world where shadows hold sway.

First and foremost, Kyari employed foreigners to head NNPCL Trading Operations making a non-Nigerian citizen in charge of selling the Nigerian crude oil. To further sabotage the system and humiliate the Nigerian entity mele kyari brought in a foreigner to become the Managing Director of NNPC Retail and also a foreigner in charge of NNPCL Exploration arm NEPL which is not only a national data security sabotage but clear gross mismanagement. There is nowhere in the world where you will find a foreigner controlling the sales and operations of a state-owned entity. The illustration below depicts the Kyari's NNPCL scenario:

FOREIGNERS AS DIRECTORS OF A FGN-OWNED ENTITY

The appointment of foreigners serving as directors of a federal government entity is a breach spearheaded by Kyari. This is the first point of compromise, disloyalty to the President and the country, and above all, an act of treason. It sparks curiosity in the discerning minds. It points to the scheming of a highly organized syndicate for money laundering. The appointment has since generated heated debates and has created divisions amongst the senior staff and high-ranking officials of NNPCL. Moreover, it has sparked multifaceted debates over Kyari's unilateral decision to hire foreigners into the federal government entity. Some senior officials confided that the reason given by Kyari was that there is perceived incompetence or lack of required capacity deficit in NNPCL. This is absurd, and a strategy of the Buhari cabal still controlling mele kyari.

Appointing foreigners to top Key NNPCL subsidiaries is susceptible and need not be entertained by Mr. President. This contravenes his principles and philosophies, aimed at transforming the sector for optimal revenue generation. The NNPCL has remained the most relevant government entity that continued to play a critical role in shaping the nation's economic outlook, therefore, its leadership must remain in the national interest. How can we trust such foreigners with access to the critical economic data of our dear Nation?

We call on the President as a matter of urgency, to call Kyari to order and replace these appointees with Nigerian industry professionals who have the requisite capacities to change the narrative and set the entity on the map of robust development without compromising national security and prosperity. Further checks revealed that, it could not be ascertained, whether these expatriate directors underwent thorough security and background screening by the country's relevant security and law enforcement agencies. The President need not be told where the loyalty of these directors falls.

Moreover, given the manner and circumstances that characterized the recruitment process of these expatriates, the principles of accountability and transparency are at stake. This development has caused a great level of disgruntledness amongst top officials of NNPCL with adverse implications. Ensuring transparency and accountability in the activities of NNPCL under Kyari to the federal government is non-negotiable. More so, the foreign directors lack an understanding of Nigerian citizens' unique needs, problems, and challenges. Kyari's alignment with these contractors has continued to lead to decisions that do not serve the best interest, of the Nation. The perceived Presidency's silence over this development has raised questions over Mr. President's commitment to revitalize the sector.

On the other hand, the $1.5billion borrowed for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery has remained unaccounted for, and there is no ongoing rehabilitation exercise at the moment. The scandal has continued to perplex industry experts and professionals, and they have sustained calls to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to institute a fresh and robust investigation to uncover the magnitude of corruption perpetrated in the guise of rehabilitation under Kyari's watch.

The Port Harcourt Refinery scandal is so deep that it can only be discovered by an uncompromising investigation agency within or outside the country. The refinery was shut in March 2019 for the first phase of the so-called repair works after the government secured the service of an Italian company, Maire Tecnimont S.P.A according to the former Minister of State, are experts in refinery maintenance, to handle the scoping of the refinery complex, with oil major Eni appointed technical adviser. The funding of the repairs was said to be from many components consisting of NNPCL, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), budgetary provisions, and Afreximbank.

On November 22, 2019, the House of Representatives ordered an investigation into the financial allocations set aside for Turn-Around Maintenance (TAM) of the petroleum refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, estimated to have cost $396.33 million in four years. The inquiry is initiated following the motion titled "Call for investigation of the $396.33 million allegedly spent in four years on turnaround maintenance of the nation's three refineries. "At the plenary session, Ifeanyi Momah, representing the Ihiala federal constituency of Anambra State, called for the inquiry, alleging that the amount spent on maintenance of the facilities had not yielded the desired results. Till today, the report of the so-called investigation by the House of Representatives has not surfaced.

In 2021, NNPCL reiterated that repairs had started after FEC approved $1.5 billion for the project. The first phase was initially scheduled, to be rounded up in 18 months (December 2022) from the point of the agreement, taking the refinery to 90 per cent production capacity with the second and third phases completed within 24 months and 44 months, respectively. However, the schedule of activities, currently on the ground, shows that the timelines are already being missed without results.

The first phase of the refinery was expected to start operation by March 2023, following 24 months of project execution in Area 5 of the complex, according to the findings. Phase 2 of the rehabilitation project will restore the Port Harcourt Refineries to a processing capacity of 135,000 bpd (90%) delivering a total processing capacity of 189,000 bpd by December 2023 following 33 months of project execution in Areas 1 & 2 of the complex. In Phase 3 of the project, the entire refinery allied infrastructure will be restored and upgraded, most notably the fluid catalytic cracking unit and other ancillary operations.

The orchestrated plot to loot $1.5 billion hiding under the term of Turn Around Maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC), by Kyari and the then Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refinery, Ahmed Dikko, and some close aides of former President Muhammadu Buhari was uncovered. Italy's Maire Tecnimont was awarded the $1.5bn Engineering, Procurement and Construction, EPC, contract from the NNPCL.

The contract is for the rehabilitation works of the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex. Investigations revealed that the fraud surrounding the award, of the TAM of the Port Harcourt Refinery started when little-known Tecnimont, an Italian Company, coopted Daewoo as a partner to bid for the $1.5billion contract. Sources disclosed that Kyari, Dikko, and some elements in the Presidency, believed that the combination of Tecnimont and Daewoo to bid for the contract would beat others such as TechnipFMC, Saipem, Hyundai Engineering Company Ltd, Petrofac, Tecnicas Reuinidas, and Worley Parsons and convince the public that they have the capacity for the job.

Investigations revealed that shortly after Tecnimont won the bid, they kicked out Daewoo and brought in Montego Upstream Services Limited incorporated on November 25, 2010, with Ununuma Nwuche and Owuze Nwuche as Directors. Tecnimont and Montego Upstream are small businesses with no capacity for a $1.5billion job, do not even have a fabrication yard in Nigeria, and have nothing. How are they going to do turnaround maintenance of the Port Harcourt refinery for $1.5billion without facilities? The source affirmed.

Further disclosures revealed that while Daewoo was kicked out of its partnership with Tecnimont because they would not accept a dirty deal, Montego Upstream, owned by relations of ABC Orjiakor, the owner of Seplat Petroleum, was nominated by the duo of Kyari and Dikko as the preferred partners of the Italian company for the $1.5billion contract. Sources say that Montego Upstream's highest job so far done since it was incorporated in 2010 is in the region of $6.5 million. Further investigations revealed that a Due Diligent report carried out, on Montego Upstream came out negative, indicating that the company is yet another portfolio entity being used as a Special Purpose Vehicle to loot.

Discreet investigations also revealed that the decision to keep Dikko as MD of the Port Harcourt refinery after his tenure had expired was to ensure that he supervised the sham “Turn Around Maintenance”. While Tecnimont has received $150 million for mobilization, Montego Upstream has also collected millions of Dollars in mobilization fees despite the negative Due Diligent report. Sources say that it took the efforts of the Kaduna State former governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and Kyari to convince the Presidency, to keep Dikko as MD of the Port Harcourt Refinery. WHY HAS KYARI NOT BEEN SACKED?

According to a source, the past cabal in the Presidency was desperately shopping for funds for the 2023 elections TO SUPPORT Atiku, and turn-around maintenance project of the Port Harcourt Refinery became an identified source for quick and easy cash. Sources further revealed that the then Minister of State, Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, had warned against handing the Turn Around Maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery to quacks. His warning was ignored, by Kyari and Dikko. The Minister even told them, that he would be stoned to death in the South-South if the turn-around maintenance of the refinery is not properly done.

Again, it can be recalled that the NNPCL recently signed an agreement with Daewoo Engineering & Construction to rehabilitate Kaduna Refinery & Petrochemical Company Ltd (KRPC) for $740,669,600.00 with a duration of Twenty-One (21) months. The 110,000 bpd capacity Kaduna Refinery is one of Nigeria's four dysfunctional refineries that have produced no fuel for years and the country has to rely on imported petroleum products. It recorded an N22.9 billion loss in 2021.

It will interest the President to know that, Dikko is now an adviser to Kyari on Refineries Rehabilitation to ensure that the looting spree continues. It will also interest the President and anyone who cares to know that the list of Kyari's corruption instances/cases is limitless. He has also been lobbying and extending a hand of friendship to the proprietors/heads of influential print, broadcast, and online media platforms in the country imploring that they should not offer their media spaces against him.

Meanwhile, despite concerted efforts by Kyari to prove that he is capable of delivering if given another mandate. The media is recently awash with reports that Nigeria lost over N 8.7 trillion at N 758/$ between January and August 2023, because of the country’s inability to meet its quota allocated by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). More so, this is coming amid a deeper debt crisis, with experts calling on the federal government to take urgent steps to boost revenue by taming oil theft.

Conclusively, the Nigerian citizens are calling on Mr. President on solid terms, as a matter of urgency, to SACK, probe, and prosecute Kyari. These have become expedient given that the time to redeem his campaign promises is now, and these include but not limited to, attracting competitive investments, massive divestment, and improved fiscal regimes in a bid to boost oil and gas production and stimulate Africa's biggest economy.

Ibrahim Isa writes from No 37, Ali Akilu Road, Unguwan Sarki Kaduna, Kaduna state.

Sponsored post by the present administration and cabal to aid the quick removal of the rogue without rancor.

The night will still cry blue murder anyways.