News Investigators/ The Northern Stakeholders Consultative Forum (NSCF) has demanded immediate investigation into allegations of official misconduct levelled against Ugochinyere Ikenga, co-Chairman of the disbanded joint ad-hoc Committee on Downstream and Midstream Petroleum sector, claiming new evidence of malfeasance against the embattled lawmaker.
NSCF, a non-governmental group said its own enquiry into allegations against Mr. Ikenga has unearthed shocking revelations on the alleged solicited bribe of $10million from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) alongside the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The group at a media briefing jointly addressed by its Spokesman, Ali Mohammed Sani, Convener, Yerima Shettima and Secretary General, Danjuma Paul, in Kaduna on Tuesday urged the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas to institute a fresh probe into the allegations in the interest of transparency and accountability.
“We have undertaken an investigative approach regarding the recent crisis surrounding the joint committee tasked with overseeing the oil industry. Reports indicate that this committee has been disbanded, primarily due to egregious and unscrupulous conduct attributed to one of its co-chairmen, Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga.
“Accusations against Mr. Ikenga suggest that he solicited a bribe of $10million, from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) alongside the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). According to credible reports from the Daily Nigerian, Mr. Ikenga has further been accused of boasting about his alleged payment of $1.7 million for his committee chairmanship—a claim that raises profound concerns about the integrity of our legislative processes.
The group further accused Mr. Ikenga of hiring private investigators “purportedly to gather information for the purpose of blackmail against the Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abass, as well as the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Kalu Benjamin.”
“Our ongoing investigations have unearthed deeply troubling patterns of behavior. As recently as July 4, 2024, unusual activities were reported around the House of Representatives premises. Subsequent inquiries unveiled that private investigators had been engaged by Mr. Ikenga, purportedly to gather information for the purpose of blackmail against the Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abass, as well as the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Kalu Benjamin,” it said.
Adding that the “actions appear to be aimed at assembling compromising evidence to intimidate them into allowing his continued leadership of the Committee on Petroleum (Downstream).
“In our quest for truth, we earnestly call upon the leadership of the House of Representatives to procure and review the CCTV footage from the House complex on the mentioned date. We are confident that these recordings will validate the claims, revealing various meetings held between Hon. Ikenga and the private investigators within his office premises. Alarmingly, it seems Mr. Ikenga sought to obscure his conversations by augmenting the volume of a television, mistakenly believing it would mask their dialogues from surveillance devices. However, we assert that these security measures successfully captured their exchanges, laying bare the malicious intent behind their actions.
The joint committee, headed by Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (Imo) and Rep. Henry Okojie (Edo), was disbanded early August by the Speaker. The committee was tasked with investigation of alleged importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues.
The group urged the Speaker to initiate a comprehensive investigation into these serious allegations, in the interest of restoring public confidence and institutional integrity, “particularly concerning the activities of the disbanded committee. The broader implications of such behavior—if left unchecked—pose a significant risk to our democratic foundations and must be addressed with utmost severity,” it added.
Below is the text of the address by NSCF:
Press Conference Addressed by the Northern Stakeholders Consultative Forum (NSCF) in Kaduna: The Case for Immediate Investigation into Allegations Against Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga
August 14, 2024
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, esteemed representatives of civil society, young leaders, and members of various non-governmental organizations gathered here today, we stand united, comprising the Northern Stakeholders Consultative Forum (NSCF) along with 72 other organizations advocating for accountability, transparency, and ethical governance in Nigeria. This is an imperative moment for us, characterized not just by concern, but by urgency, as we gather to address the alarming recent developments concerning the conduct of Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga, a member of the House of Representatives.
We are a coalition of Civil Society Organizations—established in November 2022—involvement in which is driven by an unwavering commitment to uphold the principles of democracy. Our mission is to ensure that those who have been elected to serve the people adhere unwaveringly to their responsibilities. Accountability lies at the very heart of a functioning democracy; when representatives err or engage in misconduct, it is the duty of us all to highlight these discrepancies and demand justice.
In recent weeks, Nigeria has been enveloped in significant turmoil, particularly within the energy sector. This tumultuous climate, exacerbated by the ongoing tensions between the Dangote Refinery and regulatory bodies, compels us to reflect on the implications of the actions—or inactions—of our lawmakers. In light of our commitment to promoting transparency, we have undertaken an investigative approach regarding the recent crisis surrounding the joint committee tasked with overseeing the oil industry. Reports indicate that this committee has been disbanded, primarily due to egregious and unscrupulous conduct attributed to one of its co-chairmen, Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga.
Accusations against Mr. Ikenga suggest that he solicited a bribe of $10million, from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) alongside the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). According to credible reports from the Daily Nigerian, Mr. Ikenga has further been accused of boasting about his alleged payment of $1.7 million for his committee chairmanship—a claim that raises profound concerns about the integrity of our legislative processes.
Our ongoing investigations have unearthed deeply troubling patterns of behavior. As recently as July 4, 2024, unusual activities were reported around the House of Representatives premises. Subsequent inquiries unveiled that private investigators had been engaged by Mr. Ikenga, purportedly to gather information for the purpose of blackmail against the Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abass, as well as the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Kalu Benjamin. These actions appear to be aimed at assembling compromising evidence to intimidate them into allowing his continued leadership of the Committee on Petroleum (Downstream).
In our quest for truth, we earnestly call upon the leadership of the House of Representatives to procure and review the CCTV footage from the House complex on the mentioned date. We are confident that these recordings will validate the claims, revealing various meetings held between Hon. Ikenga and the private investigators within his office premises. Alarmingly, it seems Mr. Ikenga sought to obscure his conversations by augmenting the volume of a television, mistakenly believing it would mask their dialogues from surveillance devices. However, we assert that these security measures successfully captured their exchanges, laying bare the malicious intent behind their actions.
Moreover, we have uncovered indications that Mr. Ikenga harbors aspirations to cultivate deleterious information about Deputy Speaker Kalu, whom he views as a potential rival. This rivalry appears to stem from the perception that Deputy Speaker Kalu operates as a facilitator for funds from the Dangote Refinery. Such dynamics illustrate a troubling environment, where personal ambitions overshadow civic duty.
The unsettling reality we confront today reflects an Assembly that has deviated from the ideals of service and integrity—an institution where the corrupted ethos has permeated the legislative framework. The allegations against Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga underscores a disconcerting narrative of exploitation and corruption, which is detrimental to the trust bestowed upon our legislative representatives.
In the interest of restoring public confidence and institutional integrity, we implore the Speaker of the House to initiate a comprehensive investigation into these serious allegations, particularly concerning the activities of the disbanded committee. The broader implications of such behavior—if left unchecked—pose a significant risk to our democratic foundations and must be addressed with utmost severity.
In conclusion, we urge all stakeholders to embrace our collective responsibility in this matter. We advocate for a transparent, accountable, and ethical legislative process, one that genuinely serves the Nigerian populace and reinstates faith in our democracy. Let us work together for the greater good, ensuring that the actions of our leaders are reflective of the values we espouse as a nation.
Thank you for your attention. Let us continue to raise our voices in favor of integrity, accountability, and the principles upon which our democracy is founded.
Spokesman of NSCF (Ali Mohammed Sani)
Convener (Alhaji Yerima Shettima)
Secretary General ( Danjuma Paul)