Oil subsidy trial: Oil marketers further Challenge FG

The oil marketers who are currently fighting the Federal government over subsidy claims have asked the federal government to publish the names of those payments were made to, as they were confident that none of them will be indicted. Speaking with Journalists yesterday, two of the marketers, Oando and Conoil had declared that they have nothing to hide. It was claimed that Over N4.2 trillion is currently been owed marketers and traders for the importation of refined petroleum products this year. The oil marketers have advised the Federal government to institute legal action against those it had claimed had committed some infraction in the claims, asserting that they are confident that most of them will walk away untouched. However, it has been revealed that if nothing is done in the most speedy way, scarcity will hit the entire nation
as the amount the government is willing to pay is said to be too poor and cannot even ensure the importation of the refined product. The claims and counter claims between the ministries of Finance, and Petroleum Resources on the one hand and the oil marketers and traders over subsidy payment is why it has become important to by the marketers to challenge the federal government over the matter. The protesting marketers and traders have continued to insist that unless government pays the outstanding claims they were making, they will shut down their tanks this week . But on the contrary, the government said that it was still investigating over 21 companies, and until those investigations are completed, it will be difficult to know who and who are being owed. A statement signed by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Friday read in part: “Following the work of the Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidy Payments led by Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the following firms (21) are being investigated based on evidence that they may have engaged in fraudulent activities under the fuel subsidy regime.” However, one of the chief executives of one of the 21 companies currently under investigation have revealed that government’s action was a total blackmail. He asked: “Over 170 companies were indicted in the Aig-Imoukhuede’s report, why are they (government) singling out 21 for criminal investigations?” He further established, “if they are sure of their claims, let them go to court to prove their case against the marketers. That way we will know that they are truly serious with what they want to do.” Meanwhile, fuel scarcity in the Federal Territory- Abuja has gone into its 3rd day as many people in Abuja have decided to park their cars since most filling stations have been shut down. Our correspondent who went round the city of Abuja had discovered that many people who went out for the Sallah celebration were forced to buy fuel from hawkers. It was revealed that a litre of fuel as at Sunday goes between N350 and N400. As a result of the new development, taxi fare has increased drastically. Most of the motorists who spoke with our correspondent have expressed disappointment over the situation and have pleaded with the government to resolve the issue with the marketers as soon as possible.