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Falana claims $12.7bn crude was stolen from Nigeria in 3 years
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has alleged that $12.7 billion worth of crude oil was stolen from the country between 2011 and 2014.
Falana made the allegation while speaking at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
According to the lawyer, the information was contained in the crude oil theft data released by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. He promised to make the report available to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other stakeholders.
“The study revealed that the value of the money from oil stolen from Nigeria is $12.7bn. The oil was discharged in one port. We have identified who the oil majors are and the shipping companies involved; but since 2014, we have been begging the Nigerian government to recover the money,” Falana said.
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The human rights lawyer, who called for the immediate recovery from oil companies, royalties that ought to have accrued to the Federation Account since 2014, also urged PENGASSAN to prevail on the anti-corruption agencies to probe and trace the funds, as well as determine the culprits.
Also speaking, NNPC Group Managing Director, Maikanti Baru, called for a synergy between PENGASSAN and the corporation.
“The NNPC appreciates your consistent involvement in the industry’s policy formulation, the most recent being the Petroleum Industry Bill; the corporation also appreciate your advocacy for robust local content development as well as your complementary role to grow a virile and productive economy for the country.
“These have gone a long way to demonstrate the high stake you have exhibited in the service of the industry and the nation. I can only add that you keep up your good work,” he said.
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