An inquiry into all contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of refineries in Nigeria said to have gulped N11.35 trillion in 13 years has begun.
The investigation is carried out by an ad hoc committee constituted by the Nigerian Senate.
The sum includes: $592, 976, 050.00, €4, 877, 068.47 and £3, 455, 656.93.
The Senate also mandated the committee to interrogate the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on the best approach to commercialise state-owned refineries.
Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) who presided over the plenary, named Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho, APC – Kogi East) as the chairman of the committee.
Other members are chairmen of the committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream, Upstream and Gas), Finance, Appropriation, and Public Accounts.
He mandated the panel to submit its report within four weeks.
Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State University lecturer, Dr Comfort Adokwe, who was abducted on Sunday, has been released.
Adokwe, a lecturer in the Faculty of Administration at the university and a Deputy Director, Gender Studies, of the school, was abducted on Sunday night by gunmen from her residence in Angwan Jaba in Keffi.
Speaking, Timothy Adokwe, brother to Comfort, confirmed the release.
“Yes, she was released around 8:30,” he said.
He said the kidnappers initially demanded an N100million ransom.
He confirmed that the family paid an undisclosed amount to secure her freedom.
Timothy, however, lauded the military and the Department of State Services, DSS, for their involvement in the release of his sister, saying that though they could not go closer to avoid any harm to Comfort, they monitored via satellite.
“Actually, the police were not there, but the military and the DSS were involved, but at the outskirts because they tried to monitor from their satellite and know the location, but you know, they can’t just enter directly,” he said.
Adokwe said his sister has been taken to an undisclosed hospital for a medical checkup, adding that she is okay and has reunited with her husband and daughter.
He urged the government to ensure development reaches some areas dominated by kidnappers.
He said the VC of the university who was kidnapped in the past was rescued from the same location.