Diezani "EFCC quizzes Omokore, Atlantic Energy boss"

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has quizzed the Chairman of Atlantic Energy, Mr. Jide Omokore, over the ongoing investigations into the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Investigations revealed that the Subsidy Unit of the EFCC, which is entrusted with the responsibility of probing the NNPC oil scandal, on Monday invited Omokore to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja to answer questions in relation to the investigations.

Omokore was said to have honoured the invitation and was quizzed and later released.

It was gathered that his invitation was in connection with the ongoing probe of the NNPC and a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Investigation revealed that Omokore was not detained by the operatives of the commission, who are working with their counterparts from the United Kingdom, to uncover alleged oil deals that were executed to the detriment of the nation’s economy.

A source, who confided in our correspondent, said, “The Atlantic Energy Chairman was at the commission’s headquarters to answer questions in relation to the ongoing probe.

“I don’t think it would be right to say that he was arrested as he came to the office on his own and was interrogated. He was later released to go on administrative bail.”

The granting of administrative bail by the EFCC means that the suspect will make himself available whenever he is needed by the commission.

Investigation further revealed that some key officials of the NNPC, who worked with the former minister and other key players in the oil sector, had been interrogated by the EFCC and had also been released on administrative bail.

It was learnt that a Managing Director of one of the NNPC subsidiaries, three former Executive Directors and some senior members of staff were being made to visit the EFCC periodically.

The former minister, the NNPC officials and three companies which featured prominently in the nation’s oil business are being probed in relation with billions of naira worth of crude oil that were allegedly lifted without being paid for.

It was further gathered that a four-man team of crack detectives constituted under the Subsidy Unit of the EFCC extracted information from the NNPC workers who said they allowed the lifting of the crude in obedience to directives from the leadership of the nation’s oil industry under Diezani.

Our correspondent made repeated efforts to get the comment of the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, without success as calls to his mobile telephone did not connect.