Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) is a coalition of over hundred and fifty Anti-corruption organizations whose primary aim is to constructively combat corruption vigorously and to ensure the effective monitoring of the various Anti-graft agencies in the fight against corruption and contribute towards the enthronement of transparency, accountability, probity and total commitment in the fight to eradicate corruption in Nigeria.

The newly appointed Group Managing Director, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachukwu recently appointed Dr. Babatunde Victor Adeniran as the Group Executive Director, Commercial & Investment of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Dr. Adeniran ought to have declined the appointment on ground of conflict of interests.

As the Senior Technical Adviser on Oil and Gas Commercial of Total E & P Nigeria Ltd Dr Adeniran for over 22 years Dr. Adeniran has fundamental disagreements with NNPC over the interpretation of the AK1 Carry agreement. The dispute which arose over the agreement is currently pending before a panel of arbitrators. Dr. Victor Adeniran had recently given damning evidence against the NNPC before the Arbitrators.

On the 30th day of June 2015 Dr. Adeniran deposed to a witness statement on behalf of Total E & P Nigeria Ltd. where he attacked the interests of the NNPC. It is the case of the NNPC that at the time the Agreement was legally terminated about $91 million Carry Capital Cost was outstanding. The NNPC proceeded to show how Total E & P had fully recovered the outstanding carry cost by December 2010 through tax relief contrary to the evidence of Dr. Adeniran.

By giving evidence in favour of Total E & P Nigeria Ltd. which is at variance with the interest of the NNPC, Dr. Adeniran has placed himself in a position whereby his official position is in serious conflict with his private interest as a former employee of the opponent of NNPC in a pending litigation. Since the matter has not been determined by the arbitrators there is likelihood that Dr. Victor Adeniran will use his newly acquired position in the NNPC to ensure that the case is compromised and won by his former employers, Total E & P Nigeria Ltd.

Indeed, in his witness statement for Total E & P Nigeria Ltd, dated and signed on June 30, 2015 Dr. Adeniran claimed that his address is “Plot 247, Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District, Abuja”, the head office of the NNPC. It is the height of abuse of office on the part of Dr, Adeniran to use the address of a public institution to serve his personal interets. In any case, why did Dr. Adeniran use the address of the NNPC before the announcement of his appointment as a top official of the NNPC?

In view of the foregoing, we urge your Excellency to remove Dr. Victor Adeniran as an official of the NNPC on ground of conflict of interests which has been prohibited by virtue of Paragraph 1 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers in Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which provides as follows:

“A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest
conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.”

Your Excellency, kindly find attached a copy of the witness statement of Dr. Victor Adeniran.

Please accept the assurances of our highest esteem and regards.
Yours Sincerely,

Olanrewaju Suraju
Chair