Billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has called on President Bola Tinubu to make public the full report of the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede-led probe into the fuel subsidy regime, while also announcing a ₦1 billion libel suit against Umar Sani, a former media aide to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo.
In a statement issued Sunday, Mr Otedola dismissed Mr Sani’s recent publication linking him to subsidy fraud as “false, baseless, mischievous, and a shameless attempt to rewrite history.”
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Clarifying his role, Mr Otedola said his company, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, never traded in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), the only product eligible for subsidy claims, but was a major diesel importer.
He said diesel was deregulated long before the Petroleum Subsidy Fund (PSF) scheme began, making any claim by Zenon under the scheme impossible.
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Mr Otedola recounted that as a member of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Economic Team, he was the first to alert the government to the “monumental fraud” in the subsidy scheme, which eventually led to parliamentary and other investigations.
He also revisited the Farouk Lawan bribery scandal, insisting that he acted in collaboration with the State Security Service (SSS) in a sting operation that ultimately led to Mr Lawan’s conviction.
The businessman advised Mr Tinubu to release the Aig-Imoukhuede report, saying Nigerians deserve to know the truth and the real subsidy thieves.
On allegations about his dealings with the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr Otedola explained that his debts were transparently resolved under a court-supervised process after the 2008 financial meltdown, with AMCON itself commending his compliance.
Vowing to defend his reputation, Mr Otedola said: “Because of these deliberate lies and unfounded allegations, I have instructed my lawyers to file a ₦1 billion libel suit against Umar Sani. People must learn that reputations are not to be toyed with for cheap propaganda.”
He urged the public to seek the facts in his recently released book Making It Big, adding that he has “nothing to hide” and would not allow falsehoods to be written into history.
BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT BY FEMI OTEDOLA
My attention has been drawn to a mischievous and malicious publication written by one Umar Sani, a former Special Adviser (Media) to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, attempting to twist facts and drag my name into disrepute and allegations of complicity in the subsidy fraud. His insinuations are false, baseless, and a shameless attempt to pander to lies and rewrite history. Let me set the record straight for the overall benefit of the discerning public.
On claiming from the Petroleum Subsidy Fund (PSF)
Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited was wholly an importer and trader of diesel with a market share in excess of 90%, never traded in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and as such could not have claimed for subsidy under the Petroleum Subsidy Fund scheme. Diesel had been long deregulated even before the adoption of the PSF and did not fall under petroleum products to be claimed under the PSF regime. Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was the only product that was eligible for claim under the Petroleum Subsidy Fund scheme in a bid by the Government to make the product available and affordable to all and sundry. It is therefore shocking that someone like Umar Sani who occupied a position of authority and responsibility could display such ignorance of basic industry facts in public. I view this as either mischief (and taking advantage of the uneducated public) or a blatant display of gross ineptitude. If Diesel did not fall under the subsidy regime, how can Umar Sani then accuse Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited of impropriety under the subsidy regime.
On Exposing the Subsidy Fraud
I was a member of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Economic Team. I am the one who first alerted the President of the monumental fraud being perpetrated by economic saboteurs in the PSF scheme. When he called the then Minister of Petroleum, she denied it. With my strong determination to stop the economic malaise and bleeding, I called Senator Bukola Saraki and reported the fraud to him. He took it to the floor of the Senate, and from there the House of Representatives began its investigation. These Statesmen are alive and my assertions above can be corroborated if necessary. If I was complicit in subsidy theft, would I be the one to raise the alarm and blow the whistle on myself? That alone should question the motive of Umar Sani for his most recent publication on this matter.
On the Farouk Lawan affair
When it had become public industry knowledge that I was the whistle blower on the subsidy fraud, some of the perpetrators decided to fight back by using the House committee on the probe, headed by Hon Farouk Lawan who tried to indict me without any basis. As they always say its only natural for corruption to fight back. The House Committee on the subsidy probe was now being manipulated by the subsidy fraudsters and thereby turning the probe panel into an extortion racket. When the harassment and blackmail became incessant on my person, I petitioned the authorities and worked with the Department of State Security (DSS) in a sting operation. The money was provided by the DSS, duly marked, and handed over to me under security surveillance. I then gave it to Farouk Lawan in line with the sting operation. That is on record. To twist that carefully documented operation into an indictment against me is laughable and only exposes the ignorance of Mr. Sani. You may be aware that the Hon Lawan was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for bribery. The facts are very clear and public.
On the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede report
I implore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the full Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede report on subsidy fraud as Nigerians deserve to know the truth. It is on record that the Presidency at the time called on the late EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, to halt the investigation. Let the report be made public so the real subsidy thieves can be unmasked.
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On AMCON
The allegations and insinuations about my involvement with AMCON are again a demonstration of mischief and ineptitude on the part of Umar Sani. I wonder why someone who twist publicly available information to miseducate the populace. I have never hidden the fact that I suffered financial loses from the global economic meltdown of 2008 resulting in a huge debt exposure to the Nigerian Financial Services Industry. The loans were sold to AMCON. I in turn gave up my assets worth hundreds of billions of Naira to settle my obligations under a court-ordered settlement. It is on record that AMCON itself publicly commended my approach and told other debtors to follow my example. Court records are there for anyone seeking the truth to investigate. AMCON officials from that time are also alive today to confirm the truth. I even addressed this matter in my book, “Making it Big” which was recently published and released to the public.
Libel action
Because of these deliberate lies and unfounded allegations, I have instructed my lawyers to file a ₦1 billion libel suit against Umar Sani. People must learn that reputations are not to be toyed with for cheap propaganda and also to serve as a deterrent for other mischief makers in the future. I will go to every extent that this is achieved.
To Mr. Sani and others who peddle these half-baked stories: go and read my book Making It Big, study the facts, and stop disgracing yourselves with ignorance.
I have nothing to hide and I have always acted in the interest of truth and accountability. Those who bbenefitedfrom subsidy fraud know themselves. I will not sit back and allow falsehood to be written into history.
Femi Otedola
Chairman, Geregu Power Plc
Chairman, FirstHoldco Olc
