The management of NNPC has dissociated itself from the allegation of exporting crude oil using forged export clearance permit.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Fidel Pepple, the acting Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, in Abuja on Wednesday
He described the allegation as false and baseless, saying: “we neither have knowledge of the allegedly forged export permit nor its origin to warrant being linked with it.’’
It will be recalled that the some newspapers recently accused the NNPC of allegedly using fake documents to export millions of barrels of crude worth 1. 6 billion dollars for the third quarter of the year.
According to him, all crude oil and gas exports by NNPC follow a rigid and established guideline.
“We have always and continued to follow existing requirements for exporting crude oil and gas from the country.
“The process is complex and involves the Ministry of Trade and Investment, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the DPR and the Nigerian Customs Service.
“NNPC is not the issuing authority for export permit certificates,’’ he said.
He noted that it was the Ministry of Trade and Investment, upon satisfactory assessment that now issues Export Permit Certificates to the exporters, copies of which were sent to the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian Customs Service.
“It is therefore appalling for anyone to link NNPC with originating a fake export permit certificate or using same to export crude oil worth about 1.6billion dollars as reported by the newspaper.’’?