The minister was accused of flying with the chartered Bombardier Challenger 850 aircraft, along with her family.
The state-run oil corporation denied the allegation, saying it did not hire the jet for the minister's exclusive use or for the use of her family. However, despite the denial, Our source has gathered that VistaJet, the Swiss-based operator of the Bombardier Challenger 850, has hurriedly recalled the aircraft, following the decision by the House to probe the transaction.
Reacting to the allegation that it was responsible for settling the bills for the chartered jet, the oil corporation in a statement by its acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, said contrary to the information being peddled in some quarters, Alison-Madueke did not charter any aircraft for her personal use or for the use of her family. It however added that in line with the law establishing the corporation, NNPC in the discharge of its statutory and commercial functions engages third parties to provide services outside of its core business.
According to it, the practice is common and acceptable in the local and international business environment in which it operates.
It said: “There is nothing prohibiting NNPC from owning or chartering an aircraft. On the contrary, by the enabling legislation, NNPC is empowered to ‘hold, manage and alienate moveable and immovable property and enter into contracts or partnerships with any company, form or persons which in the opinion of the corporation will facilitate the discharge of the said duties under this Act’.” It added: “Operations in the oil and gas sector are time sensitive and often require prompt attention, which cannot be achieved using regular scheduled flights. It is standard practice for large oil and gas corporations such as NNPC to make use of the most efficient means of transportation to ensure the effective and efficient coverage of the vast scope of critical oil and gas assets under their purview.
“NNPC has always availed itself of the use of owned or chartered aircraft for the purpose of its business, which includes the transportation of its top functionaries.
“In this regard, it is pertinent to note that the international oil companies operating in joint ventures with NNPC, regularly charter aircraft as dictated by the exigencies of their business. Indeed some have moved from owning their own aircraft to using the charter opinion. Other national oil companies, such as Sonangol of Angola, have also chosen the charter option.
“The advantages of the charter option include zero capital and maintenance costs resulting in a lower financial outlay and thus an improved cash flow.”
It was gathered that VistaJet recalled the aircraft last Thursday immediately after the House, in a resolution, mandated its Committee on Public Accounts to probe the allegation that the minister had expended N10 billion on chartering the private jet over a two-year period. www.thisdaylive.com
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