The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Wednesday that it has recovered more than N115 billion in statutory levies owed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by defaulting oil companies between 2021 and 2023.
Francis Oka-Phillips Usani, an EFCC representative, disclosed this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts in Abuja.
Usani said the amount comprised N76.883 billion and $81.076 million in outstanding liabilities.
The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, is investigating queries arising from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) 2021–2023 Oil and Gas Sector Audit Report. NigeriaPolitical News
Usani said the EFCC investigated 43 oil companies, of which 24 operating in the Niger Delta were found to have outstanding three per cent statutory levies payable to the NDDC.
He said the remaining 19 companies were cleared after the investigation found no outstanding liabilities against them.
“At the commencement of the 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 a clean bill of health,” Usani said.
He added that, following the investigation and mounting pressure on the affected companies, some paid their outstanding liabilities directly to the NDDC.
According to him, the companies paid N6.709 billion and $16.994 million directly to the commission.
Usani further disclosed that N73.373 billion and $67.070 million recovered by the EFCC on behalf of the NDDC had been released to the development commission, leaving N3.510 billion and $14.005 million in the EFCC’s recovery account.
Explaining the scope of the investigation, Usani said the EFCC focused primarily on unpaid three per cent statutory levies due to the NDDC, as identified in the NEITI audit report.
He, however, said the commission was also mindful that other statutory obligations and taxes could be outstanding from the affected companies and payable to the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, the committee rejected an attempt by TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited to defend queries raised against it in the NEITI audit report, citing under-representation. NigeriaPolitical News
The committee consequently directed the Managing Director of TotalEnergies to appear in person before it at 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 appear physically before the committee.
Dankwambo said that the investigation would continue on Thursday.
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