This Day (Lagos) NEWS April 2, 2003 Posted to the web April 2, 2003 Lagos As the imbroglio on the oil deal between the Gambian top government officials and the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and its partners continue, Isichei Osamgbi writes that the new Economic and Financial Crimes Commission seams to have its first job at hand The Nigeria, Gambia oil scam has now taken a new twist, with the newly established Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, set up to curb economic and financial atrocities against the country, now set to have its first assignment. Further findings by THISDAY on the shady oil deal in which the Gambian government had been carting away petroleum products and illegally diverting them rather than agreed consumption in that country, reveal that the matter is to be tabled before the commission as it first case, which would definitely reveal other such deals in the nation's main petroleum products supply and distribution company, the Pipelines and Petroleum Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Earth Resources Management Agency Limited, an Abuja based business development and natural resources consulting company, the initiators and the officially appointed and acknowledged Gambian Government Facilitator and Collaborator on the Fuel Oils Export Concession between the Gambia and the Federal Government of Nigeria as represented by NNPC, has threatened to take its case to recover its financial entitlements from the Gambian government to the Economic and Financial Malpractices Commission for services rendered through the fuel export concession in 2002. With the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Bill of 2002 assented into law by President Olusegun Obasanjo, on December 14, 2002, leading to the establishment of the commissions, there is every indication that the commission charged with the responsibility for the investigation and enforcement of all economic and financial crimes under any law or regulations relating to economic and financial crimes in Nigeria including the Miscellaneous Offences Act, may be the first to wade into the matter. The crimes commission which is also empowered to relate with various government ministries, agencies and security services in the discharge of its functions and to enforce same in the Nigerian high courts and/or federal high court, may however face an uphill task over how to get the Gambian government to return the already diverted products.. In a copy of the a petition received by THISDAY and copied to various security services and law enforcement agencies including (Interpol), the chief executives of government agencies, the legislature and media, The Gambia is accused by Earth Resources Management Agency Limited of being a conspirator and a willing vehicle in an attempt to fraudulently hoodwink the Federal Government of Nigeria in an oil scam which would lead to the diversion of an unauthorised thousands of metric tonnes of petroleum products from Nigerian for personal gain and the intention to deprive the Nigerian people, access to large quantities of petrol and kerosine, in the face of perennial scarcity. As a follow up of our last week story, we have uncovered the intentions of officials of the Gambian High Commission and the Yahya Jammeh-led government to cover up the deal and have been busy shuttling between Banjul and Abuja, while dodging interviews with THISDAY on the matter. Currently, diverse dimensions, complete with its characteristic hydra headed intrigues and conspiracies Earth Resources Management Agency Limited official, who spoke with THSIDAY still maintained that after they had successfully secured the fuel oil export concessions, they were unscrupulously replaced by The Gambian government with another Nigerian firm and denied them legitimate fees/expenses through a cabal appointed by the Gambian government and in connivance with Nigerian principals/accessories involved in the operation of a contrived supply of refined products. With the Economic and Financial Commission recently established by President Olusegun Obasanjo as part of his anti-corruption campaign to curb offences against the nation's economy including international financial fraud of different dimensions, once again, the true anti-corruption drive of the President is being called to question. Acting on the advice of Ahmadou Samba and Edrissa Jobe, Gambian government's consultants to the oil business. The Gambia as represented by a Nigerian company entered into a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) dated October 4, with the NNPC 2002. The Petition alleges that The Gambia signed an operating and export concession which is at variance in volume and configuration with that requested by the President of Gambia. Who participated in the development and implementation of the excesses, variations and increases? Who approved them? In his request letter of May 24, 2002, The Gambian President stated that a crude oil refining capacity for 20,000 barrels/day - and as a result of "Shorfall", he therefore states (requests) that he requires a monthly commercial purchase of, (1) CRUDE - 20,000 B/D (No refining capacity whatsoever), (2) AGO - 10,000mt (120,000MT/PA), (3) PMS - 3,000mt (36,000MT/PA) and (4) HFO - 5,000mt (60,000MT/PA), at a total of 216,000mt per annum in above configuration (less crude oil). With the matter referred to NNPC and Ministry of Foreign Affairs by President Obasanjo, and the MOU ready but no nomination by Gambia of operator of concession. The Gambians had started showing their intentions to do shady deal by not nominating their original facilitator/collaborator as operator. However Sahara Energy Resources limited, a prominent oil firm in Nigeria which was nominated instead of the initial facilitators appointed to work on the project by the Gambian government, has told THISDAY that they are oblivious of any shady deal in the contract as they were only contacted as one of the leading oil firms around to facilitate the deployment of the products to The Gambia, for which they had been playing a part. According to a top official of the firm and a contract facilitator and Head of the West African Desk, who spoke with THSIDAY, Mr. Wale Ajibade, the company had been playing its role legitimately and had not lifted more products since the last consignment, while the only consignment they claim to have obtained went straight to The Gambian electricity firm. However, questions are still being asked as to the eventual destinations of the other products, when they were delivered, proof of supply to Gambia and evidence of port charges payments in Nigeria and Gambia, or any bank draft payment or documentation in favour of any government agencies. Equally, as stated in sections 1.2 & 1.3 of the MOU as against the Gambian presidential request, is 360,000mt Gambia's true consumption rate as compared to what President Jammeh wrote? Again, further evidence has shown that the dual purpose kerosine (DPK) was not requested for, but given and exported at the expense of Nigerians who endure long queues for the product. PMS inflation in award as against request. Who stands to gain? It is time for the Presidency to take further actions to ensure that there is a collaboration of all security services, law enforcement agencies including, Interpol to assist the new commission in the investigation and the hearing of the matter, so that all parties could clear themselves and the culprits brought to book. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2003 This Day. All rights reserved. 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