Oil Theft: Whistleblowers Protest Against Reps C’ttee

Hundreds of George Uboh Whistleblowers Network stormed the main entrance to the national assembly yesterday, protesting against Hon Mark Gbillah led Ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives on alleged 48 million barrels stolen crude oil  later sold in China.

The protesters led by Ambassador Joseph Peter Umoh, carried banners and placards with inscriptions denouncing the setting up of the Ad-hoc committee by the House of Representatives when the crime, according to them, is already being litigated against in the court of law.

Reading a statement during the protest, Umoh said the Hon Mark Gbillah led Ad -hoc committee on illegal sale of 48 million barrels of stolen crude oil, later sold in China at $2.4 billion, was unnecessary since the matter is already in court.

He said as whistleblowers, they blew open the stolen crude oil and illegal sales in China to Hon Mark Gbillah and Nigerians generally.

Umoh said rather than carry them along in the planned investigation, the House decided to do it alone, raising suspicion on vested interests.

“The whistleblowers who furnished Hon Mark Gbillah the information germane to the 48 million barrels of crude oil stolen did not file any petition to the national assembly for any investigation or hearing,  neither were they called as witnesses to testify during the hearing.

“Because Gbillah did not follow this sacrosanct due process, the purported public  hearing by the Ad – hoc committee is a sham predicated on unilateral action driven by greed.

“Therefore we, the whistleblowers at this protest, authoritatively assert that the national assembly does not hear or deliberate on any matter in court.

“Two different competent courts of jurisdictions, are already handling the case filed against the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL), Mele Kyari to account for proceeds from the stolen crude oil which are roughly estimated to be $2.4billion at $50 per barrel and $4.8billion at $100per barrel .

“Hon Gbillah led fommittee should therefore hands off the matter by not sitting or carrying out any public hearing on it “, he said.