Senator Adams Oshiomhole has alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s daughter was given a “juicy position” at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC, without following due process.
Oshiomhole made the claim on the “Mic On Podcast” with Seun Okinbaloye while reacting to Senate questions on NNPC and the bench warrant issued against former GCEO Mele Kyari.
—“Put in a juicy position”–
The Edo North senator accused Akpabio of having a personal stake in NNPC, alleging Kyari facilitated the appointment.
“Myself inclusive. The second is my response to the former chief financial controller of NNPC… who pointedly said to the committee that it is you people. And now I know that the Senate President said his daughter was taken by Mele Kyari and put in a, well as Nigerians we say, in a juicy position that she probably didn’t merit,” Oshiomhole said.
He alleged recruitment bypassed normal channels.
—“NNPC turned to family business”–
Oshiomhole claimed nepotism has been normalised at NNPC, with past and present officials employing relatives.
“They all have employed their children, their uncles, their cousins, their in-laws into various aspects of NNPC and put them in different positions. If they carry out the payroll of NNPC, you will find that they’ve turned the top level to a family business,” he said.
He added there’s nothing wrong with relatives working at NNPC if qualified and properly hired: “You can only make an issue if you give them a job they did not merit, they are not qualified for, and you didn’t follow the right procedure.”
—Defends Senate warrant on Kyari–
The senator also backed the Senate’s authority to issue an arrest warrant against Kyari, saying it falls within the National Assembly’s constitutional powers.
_Video: Senate President Akpabio has a personal interest in NNPC. His daughter was employed by former NNPC CEO Mele Kyari in a juicy position she probably didn’t merit – Senator Oshiomhole_ [NigAffairs via X]
Akpabio and NNPC had not responded to the allegations as of press time.
