Masters Energy has no Case with EFCC, Says Ogah

Ejiofor Alike

The President of Masters Energy Group, Mr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah has described the allegation that his company was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he refunded monies to the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as concoction of lies aimed at tarnishing his impeccable track record and hard-earned reputation.

In a clarification made at the weekend, Ogah stated that what transpired between his company and the PPMC was strictly normal product allocation to major and independent marketers, which had no relationship with fraud.

According to him, as a member of the independent marketers, Masters Energy oil and Gas was a beneficiary of an interventionist allocation to major and independent oil marketers, who were meant to remit back to the PPMC the proceeds from the sales at no-time-bar agreement.

Ogah identified the other companies involved in the interventionist allocation to include members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and the NNPC Retail (mega filling stations), which account for about 85 per cent of the debt, while the independent marketers owed the balance.

The major marketers involved the normal product allocation from the PPMC include: NNPC Retail, Oando, Forte Oil, Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO), Total Oil, Conoil and Mobil Oil. The independent marketers include Masters Energy Oil and Gas Ltd, MRS Oil & Gas, Heyden Petroleum, Danium Petroleum, A&E Petroleum, Rahamaniyya Petroleum, Càpital Oil, and Amicable Petroleum. Other include: Aiteo Petroleum, Honeywell Oil, DM Kurfi, Ascon Petroleum, Azman Oil, Felande Petroleum, Sharon Oil and Zamson Petroleum.

Ogah noted that in line with the sales agreement with the PPMC and the oil marketing companies, Masters Energy Group and the major and independent petroleum marketers had made substantial remittances back to PPMC.

Ogah described the purported EFCC invitation as a figment of the imagination of his detractors, stressing that his company’s legal department or himself did not receive any invitation either by the EFCC or any other anti-corruption agency.

He said it was malicious and ill-intentioned for anyone to peddle falsehood and lies against his person and Masters Energy Group just to score cheap political points.

Ogah urged his detractors to concentrate on improving on governance and service delivery to the people and desist from mudslinging of notable personalities from Abia State, whose offence was their decision to defend their rights using legal channels made available by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Abians should continue to trust in God who has made Dr. Uche Ogah a willing tool for use in the liberation of the state from prebendalism and neopatrimonalism and not be distracted from their prayers and believe that God has heard our prayers and the time for Abia to Rejoice is here,” Ogah said.

Ogah insisted that he had demonstrated an impeccable track record of integrity, honesty, hard work and humility in his private life, businesses and politics and vowed to institute legal actions against anyone involved in any attempt to tarnish his reputation.