Petition to President Buhari - "How We Were Swindled in Oil Deal Involving NNPC, Alkhairi Limited"
AN APPEAL FOR OUR COMMISSIONS TO BE PAID FOR FACILITATING THE SALE OF 80 TRILLION METRIC TONNES OF LPFO
ATTENTION:
The GMD (NNPC)/ Minister of State (Petroleum)
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
The Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China
The Central Bank of Nigeria
The Department of State Security Services
The Nigeria Police
Mr. President, we refer to the subject matter.
We had in an earlier letter, written to your office pleading for your assistance in prevailing on Mr. Ibrahim Bature (CEO of Alkhairi Oil Plus Limited whose address is Plot 14, Trans Amadi Layout, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, whom we can authoritatively say has blatantly refused to pay us our due following a completed transaction involving the sale and purchase of 80 trillion metric comes of LPFO (Low Pour Fuel Oil) between the Nigeria National Petroleum corporation (The seller) and Huang BO Hai Petro-chemical Industries of China (The Buyer).
The world over, just like in any business transaction, the sale and purchase of Petro-chemical and other oil products, is done through a network of facilitators who ensure a smooth transaction.
In our case, we received information through verifiable means of the interest of one Huang Bo Hai Petrochemical Industries Limited of China, to purchase as much quantities of LPFO as available in Nigeria. We thereafter proceeded to network amongst registered facilitators of oil business in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria, and were able to put together a total of 80 trillion metric tonnes which the NNPC was willing to sell off through their agent Alkhairi Oil Plus Limited.
A series of negotiations followed thereafter and when we were satisfied, especially after getting confirmation from various documents emanating from Huang Bo Hai Industries of China, the NNPC, Alkhairi Oil Plus, and other related corporate organizations, we surrendered all allocations of LPFO as we had sourced and the documents for same to Alkhairi Oil Plus Limited. We like to point to you at this point that negotiations for this transaction began in March of 2014 and came to a close in June of 2015.
Mr. President, for the avoidance of doubt, you can request the documents relating to this transaction from Mr. Melee Kyari, the Group General Manager (Crude Oil Marketing Department) of the NNPC, or, we are very ready to avail you, same at your request. Mr. Melee Kyari is very conversant with this transaction.
Mr. President, the crux of this petition is that, though we are very aware of the consummation of this transaction, we became very shocked when Mr. Ibrahim Bature, the CEO of Alkhairi Oil Plus Limited came out to inform us that the said transaction did not take place.
Mr. president, following Mr. Ibrahim Bature's claim, we as facilitators to this transaction launched our investigation which not only revealed that the transaction took place, but Huang Bo Hai had already began lifting of the products, and we dare say that, we know of one of such times which was logged in to have been on the 27th of January 2016.
When we confronted Mr. Ibrahim Bature with this claim, Mr. Bature only resorted to threats of various kinds. Mr. Ibrahim Bature told us to "go to hell", and asked us to report the matter to whatever constituted authorities or otherwise. Mr. Ibrahim Bature kept dropping your name, and saying there was nothing any Nigerian alive can do to him.
Following such a bold bluff, we enlisted the services of one Miss. Adanne Ajaelu, a senior official of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Abuja, to help not only verify Mr. Ibrahim Bature claim, but also appeal to him for understanding. Miss. Ajaelu's investigation led her to Mr. Melee. Kyari, the Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Department (The GGM COMD) office.
During the very first interface with the GGMCOMD, Mr. Kyari personally expressed shock that facilitators to this transaction had not been paid.
Mr. Kyari said he was very aware of this transaction and thought by now, all parties had parted ways satisfied. Upon clarification by Miss. Ajaelu that parties to this transaction had not been paid, the GGMCOMD who said he personally knew the CEO of Alkhari oil plus, put a call through to Mr. Bature. He demanded from Mr. Bature, the status of the transaction, for which Mr. Bature asked that he needed to physically come and offer explanations to the GGMCOMD.
Mr. Kyari asked Miss Ajaelu to wait for Mr. Bature who apparently was coming over to the GGMCOMD office. Hours after, and failing to arrive, Mr. Kyari proposed a second meeting. At a second meeting however with Mr. Ibrahim Bature in attendance, the story had changed.
Mr. Bature in the presence of Mr. Kyari, rather denied that the transaction took place. He demanded of Miss Ajaelu, any and all related documents to the said transaction. We had provided all related documents to Miss Ajaelu, who showed same to Mr. Bature. Mr. Bature subsequently acknowledged all the documents as authentic but turned around to demand a document titled, "The certificate of unblock funds".
This document however, is the principal which shows that monies have been released and received concerning the transaction and which naturally should only be in the possession of the seller (NNPC) and or their agent, as well as the buyer (Huang Bo Hai) and or their agent as well as receiving organizations like the banks of both seller and buyer.
Mr. President, we have even gone to the extent of approaching the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China in Abuja, and even though our communication with them began on the 4th of April 2016, authorities of the Chinese Embassy have deliberately become elusive in answering our queries. We have been made to understand that Mr. Ibrahim Batures' tentacles extend this far.
Mr. President, one great worry that we have about this whole transaction is that, it is possible that what was due to the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria through this transaction may have gone to private pockets. In the light of this dangerous possibility we appeal to you on the following.
That you demand a proper explanation from the authorities of the NNPC, the status of this transaction.
If the transaction did occur, were the proceeds meant for the FGN paid to the appropriate authorities?
If the transaction did occur, ALL facilitators as captured in the build up to this transaction he paid their due.
That appropriate sanctions be placed on whoever attempted to subvert the course of such a formal and international business.
That Mr. Ibrahim Bature, the CEO of Alkhairi Oil Plus Limited, who also claims to be a retired General in the Nigerian Army, be made to sign an undertaking as to the safety of all of our members whom he has threatened with even death.
That the Commission of inquiry which we believe you will set up, invite all the parties involved to make bold their claims as well as present to you, their facts on the matter.
We are constrained to resort to you as a last option because we believe in your stance for fairness and justice.
We appeal that you commission a committee of people with integrity as strict as yours to look into this matter.
Thank you Mr. President.
We believe that in you, a new Nigeria is possible.
For and on behalf of all facilitators
Barr. Udeze Kenneth
Anukwuem Solicitors and Advocates,
Suite C15 PEB 04 Plaza Wuse Zone 5,
Abuja Nigeria.
Tel: +234 706 727 7005
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