The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it had recovered about N5 billion from persons and organisations indicted in the fuel subsidy scam that followed the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), better known as petrol, in 2012.
The agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, made the disclosure during a town hall meeting on fuel subsidy organised by Africa Network of Economic and Environment Justice, ANEEJ, in collaboration with Justice for All, J4A, at Vines Hotels, Abuja.
According to Uwujaren, the anti-graft agency is currently prosecuting 13 different oil subsidy cases while investigations are on to bring other indicted persons or companies to justice.
“Investigation and prosecution of fuel subsidy cases have not been too easy for us but we are resolute in our determination to ensure that we push all those cases to logical conclusion,” Uwujaren said.
While underlining the commission’s emphasis on transparency and corruption issues in the oil sector, Uwujaren said the agency presently has a full-fledged section charged with investigation of oil subsidy matters and other extractive industries issues.
He thanked the organisers of the programme for their initiative saying: “as a Commission, we welcome any initiative that draws public attention to the monumental fraud that we have in the oil subsidy regime.”
Speaking at the event, David Ugolor, Director, ANEEJ, said the purpose of the town hall meeting was to review how the anti-corruption agencies and the judiciary have fared so far in the investigation and prosecution of indicted persons and companies in the fuel subsidy regime and to also agree on measures needed to be taken to put pressure on federal government to do more in bringing indicted persons and or companies to justice.
“It is widespread that payments of oil subsidy to oil marketers were inflated and several marketers got paid for doing nothing and expenses charged to subsidy account,” Ugolor said.
He emphasised the need to amend EFCC Act to create special courts for prosecution of corruption cases.
Also, Mr. Otsemaye Newton of J4A called for more synergy among the anti-corruption agencies and the civil society organisations in investigating and prosecuting oil subsidy and other economic and financial crime cases.
Another speaker, Mr. Peter Ritchie who spoke on ‘Fuel Subsidy Fraud Background’ criticised the manner public funds are being siphoned and called for prudence in the management of Petroleum Support Fund.
Ritchie stressed the need for financial independence of anti-corruption agencies to further strengthen the anti-graft war Nigeria.
He commended EFCC for the strides recorded in prosecution of oil subsidy scams and other corruption cases in Nigeria.
