The ad hoc committee had in its report made three recommendations that appeared to exonerate the former minister and the indicted firms.
The Ajibola Muraina-led committee was tasked by the Chamber to among others investigate and unravel the alleged shady deals involving Alison Madueke, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Ltd, Septa Energy Ltd and some other entities with respect to the Farm-out or Allocation of Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 4, 26, 30, 34, 38, 41 and 42 respectively.However, members yesterday rejected the recommendations and blocked its adoption immediately a proposal to that effect was made by the presiding officer, Emeka Ihedioha.
At his first attempt, Ihedioha put the question as to whether the House should consider the report, and there was resounding nay voice votes, but apparently surprised and trying to persuade his colleagues, the Deputy Speaker repeated the question once again and got the same result.
The Committee had recommended that; “(i) That operators in the industry should deliberately encourage openness/transparency in their operations;
“(ii) That companies involved in the Petroleum Industry should be required to ensure timely dissemination of information regarding their transactions, especially those involving Government Agencies and Corporations as this would forestall suspicions and sentiments of having been cheated that are always bound to arise in circumstances where a section of the relevant stakeholders in the industry are left in doubt as to transactions in the industry,” and that;
“(iii) That a clean bill of health be given to all the parties involved in this transaction as the entire transaction conformed to all the applicable laws.
-Guardian