The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to constitute a Sub-Committee from within to launch a separate investigation into the desirability or otherwise of continuing with the Molecular Power System (MPS) oil theft detection system.
Chairman, Special Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa disclosed this in Abuja while addressing management of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) during the resumed investigative hearing of oil theft.
Hon. Ado-Doguwa who was represented by Hon. Sada Soli who addressed the Stakeholders during the session, explained that setting up the Subcommittee became pertinent amidst zero level of recovery recorded so far from the multi-million dollar contract with a retainership fee of $5 million built into it without commensurate results.
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The issue came to light when the committee engaged with the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA
While inquiring on how to minimize and eradicate the incidence of oil theft in Nigeria, Hon. Soli asked whether it was necessary to retain the hard-earned revenue draining MPS detection system, with no iota of success recorded since its deployment.
He said: “On the contrary, some powerful lawyers, already enjoying the retainership largesse are already putting up stiff resistance in order not to lose the easy money coming their way, faced with the possibility of losing the retainership in case of eventually losing the contract.”
Hon. Soli also wondered the rationale behind the Attorney- General’s instruction that the retainership to Nigerian lawyers, practising in Nigeria should be paid in dollars.
In a separate engagement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), made a strong case for the establishment of Specialized Courts to try cases of those apprehended for oil theft and related crimes to facilitate recoveries.
Speaking on behalf of EFCC, Mr. Michael Uzokwe informed the committee that delay in prosecution through regular Courts was hampering prosecution and militating against elimination of crude oil theft and other financial crimes.