EFCC Recovers N115bn+ for NDDC as Senate Probe Deepens

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday disclosed that it recovered over N115 billion in statutory levies owed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by defaulting oil companies between 2021 and 2023.

The figure, presented by the EFCC representative, Mr Francis Oka-Phillips Usani, to the Senate Committee on Public Accounts probing the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) 2021–2023 Oil and Gas Sector Audit findings, comprises N76.883 billion and $81.076 million.
According to Usani, the EFCC investigated 43 oil companies, out of which 24 were found to have outstanding 3 per cent statutory levies owed to the NDDC, while the remaining 19 companies were given a clean bill of health.
“At the commencement of investigation, EFCC invited 43 oil companies, out of which 24 operating within the Niger Delta were found to have outstanding liabilities in the sums of N76,883,705,907.17 and $81,076,655.00, while the remaining 19 other oil companies were given clean bill of health,” he said.
He added that following the investigation and pressure mounted on the affected 24 oil companies, some of them paid their outstanding liabilities directly to the NDDC, amounting to N6.709 billion and $16.994 million.
Usani informed the Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwabo-led committee that, out of the sums recovered by the commission on behalf of the NDDC, N73.373 billion and $67.070 million had been released to the commission, leaving balances of N3.510 billion and $14.005 million in the EFCC recovery account.
Explaining the scope of the investigation, Usani said the EFCC focused on one primary pillar identified in the NEITI report, which was unpaid 3 per cent statutory levies due to the NDDC. He, however, noted that the EFCC did not lose sight of other possible unpaid statutory obligations and taxes due to the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, following the EFCC’s presentation, the committee rejected an attempt by TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited to defend queries raised against it in the audit report, citing under-representation.
The committee consequently resolved that the Managing Director of TotalEnergies must appear before it in person on a date to be fixed next week. It also gave the Managing Directors of South Atlantic Petroleum Limited, Oando Oil Limited, Famfa Oil and Green Energy International Limited a final opportunity to make physical appearances before the committee.
Speaking at the end of the session, Senator Dankwabo said the investigative hearing would continue on Thursday.