Lawan’s telephone conversation with Otedola on $3m bribe •Integrated Oil, Oando reject technical committee’s reports on fuel subsidy
Transcript of the telephone recordings of the conversation recorded by Otedola, which he submitted to the State Security Service (SSS), indicated that Otedola made the call to intimate Lawan that the balance of $2.5 million was ready.
Lawan was quoted in the conversation to have asked Otedola to hand over the sum to a trusted ally whom he gave his name as TJ. He also gave the said TJ's number to Otedola as he (Lawan) put a call through to the said colleague to ensure he would be available to pick up the money.
Lawan, in the two-minute conversation was said to have concluded with Otedola that a certain TJ would be at the Abuja airport to pick up the balance of $2.5 million.
The text of the conversation goes thus:
Otedola: I don’t want to bring it to my house.
Lawan: You will take it to your house?
Otedola: No, I don’t want to bring it to my house. It’s a lot of money.
Lawan: Yes, hurry because I am rushing to the…they are at the airport now?
Otedola: Yes, they are at the airport in the aircraft.
Lawan: And before they can come over now….unless I send somebody to…I can’t…by the time they come I should be in the chambers. I have a lot of things to do myself.
Otedola: Is there anybody you trust I can give it to or maybe I should postpone my …till tomorrow?
Lawan: No, no, it’s ok. I will arrange with someone. Let me give you his number.
Otedola: Ok
Lawan: His number is 080….
Otedola: Hold on hold on…080…
Lawan: 365133**
Otedola: What’s his name?
Lawan: Yeah, TJ
Otedola: So, I will give him the balance, that’s 2.5 million dollars yeah?
Lawan: Hold on, just hold on, I am calling him to be sure.
Meanwhile, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited and Oando Plc have rejected claims by the technical committee set up by the Federal Government to authenticate the reports submitted by the House of Representatives committee probing subsidy regime in the downstream sector, which reported that 88 companies claimed subsidy of over N450 billion without auditors’ signatures.
The Aig-Imoukhuede-led technical committee had on Friday indicted 88 companies to have collected subsidy payment without auditors’ signatures. Integrated Oil and Gas was alleged to have taken N1,738,340,070.86, N1,734,920,131.20 and N1,672,668,269.04
Addressing journalists in Lagos on Monday, chairman of Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, said it was not true that his company took N5,146,828,471.11 billion subsidy in three instances, without the auditors’ approval.
According to him, documents confirming his company’s compliance were fully endorsed and counter-signed by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) officials, Deloitte official and a company representative. According to the documents he presented to journalists, Mr Ajimobi Olaniyi, Egbuji Sylvia and Kasali Temitope signed for PPPRA, while Mr Danjuma Olegbo signed for Deloitte, the auditing firm approved by PPPRA.
“In other words, the auditors did validate not just one, but all import documents in respect of each of the shipments considered. In the light of the clear evidence of our full compliance with the documentation requirements for refund processing, one wonders where and how the Technical Committee may have come to the conclusion that Integrated Oil was paid refunds without the benefits of an auditor’s endorsement on the import documents,” he said.
Wondering why the committee did not deem it necessary to cross-check its facts before publishing, he said the allegations had in no small measure done serious damage to the corporate image of his company. He also said his company had not drawn any benefit from the subsidy regime other than the payment refunds, which were legitimately due to his company.
He said such payments were on account of money which his company procured by borrowing from the banks and spent upfront to import gasoline distribution under the PPPRA’s Petroleum Support Fund programme.
“As we continue to endure the humiliation and embarrassment which has been brought about by this unflattering mention of our company in the technical committee’s report, we continue to be owed huge amount of monies, running into billions of naira, by the PPPRA and the administration, on account of gasoline cargoes supplied to the Nigerian market, in respect of which due refunds are yet to be made.
Meanwhile bank interest rates continue to run unabated,” he said.
According to him, “the company is currently being owed about N10.5 billion under the Petroleum Support Fund, amidst accrued interests payments and exchange rate losses,” adding that the development was capable of keeping him and other marketers out of business, because banks were now reluctant to lend them money.
Meanwhile, in a press statement release by Oando, on Monday, signed by Head, Corporate Communications, Meka Olowola, the company said irrespective of the multiplicity of probes initiated by the various tiers of government since the start of the year, Oando had always been ready, willing and able to provide all relevant documents supporting claims made, both past and present, against the Petroleum Subsidy Fund and to demonstrate the culture of integrity that the company stood for.
On the allegation of subsidies paid without auditor’s signature on shore tank receipt documents, he said “government agencies, including PPPRA auditors and DPR, verify quantity on board, as well as shore tank volumes prior to the commencement of receipt.
“As such, it is virtually impossible for vessels to discharge without due sign offs by the authorities. We have documents duly witnessed by all government agencies, including PPPRA, DPR and independent inspectors for all discharges, including the stated transactions.”
