Group Demands Probe of Bala Wunti, NAPIMS GGM.

A group the, Citizens Watch Coalition has petitioned the Nigerian Senate Demanding the Probe of the Group General Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPMS), Bala Wunti. Recall that as part of the restructuring and consolidation of the NNPC Limited, NAPIMS is now known as the NNPC Upstream Investment Commission. Until his elevation as GGM, one of the most influential roles in the Nigerian Oil industry, Wunti was the Chief Upstream Investment Officer of the NNPC Upstream Management Services.

The group in the petition alleged Multi-billion Dollar Corruption, Massive Contracts Fraud and Sabotage of the nation’s economy by the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPMS), Bala Wunti.

In the petition addressed to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas (Petroluem Resources, the group alleged that "Overtime, independent industry sources have revealed that Wunti allegedly awarded different contracts in flagrant violation of the procurement processes and only to companies endorsed by him. According to these sources, the NNPC boss is also known for frustrating oil development operations over his alleged greed and personal interest".

Urging the Senate to urgently probe the state of affairs at NAPIMS, the group disclosed, "There is no doubt that the activities of Bala Wunti represent a clear and present danger to the survival of the Nigerian oil sector, if allowed to continue. This is an urgent call on the Senate to initiate a thorough investigation into the activities of Bala Wunti and his management of NAPIMS".

The petition is reproduced below:

Citizens Whistleblowers Coalition (CWC)
#22 Mbiama-Yenagoa Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Tel: 07064748981. whistleblower@gmail.com.

The Chairman
Senate Committee on Gas(Petroleum Resources)
National Assembly
Abuja.

Sir,
Petition on the Multi-billion Dollar Corruption, Massive Contracts Fraud and Sabotage of the nation’s economy by the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPMS), Bala Wunti.

We are constrained to address this petition to your office, in recognition of the fact that the National Assembly remains the true representatives of the Nigerian People and owes the electorates the obligation to stand as a bulwark against corruption and economic sabotage.

It is no secret that over the years, some top management staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited have been accused of awarding fraudulent multi-billion dollars contracts without recourse to procedure and due process. Of immediate concern is the fact that if what was described as corrupt practices in the nations apex oil industry was a trickle, today we are confronted by an avalanche, that if left unchecked will doom oil production and lead to a possible economic meltdown occasioned by lost oil revenue.

Leading the pack in this upsurge of corrupt practices, according to confidential sources within the industry and preliminary investigations is the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPMS), Bala Wunti. Instructively, as part of the restructuring and consolidation of the NNPC Limited, NAPIMS is now known as the NNPC Upstream Investment Services. Until his elevation as GGM, one of the most influential roles in the Nigerian Oil industry, Wunti was the Chief Upstream Investment Officer of the NNPC Upstream Management Services. It was reliably gathered that Wunti got the job through the influence of Malam Abba Kyari, the late Chief of Staff to President Buhari. He hails from the same Bauchi State as Mrs Kyari.

Overtime, independent industry sources have revealed that Wunti allegedly awarded different contracts in flagrant violation of the procurement processes and only to companies endorsed by him.

According to these sources, the NNPC boss is also known for frustrating oil development operations over his alleged greed and personal interest.

Following the transition of the NNPC into a public limited liability company saddled with the responsibilities of raising funds both locally and internationally with huge investors' confidence, it is expected that its operations will be run transparently and devoid of any whiff of sharp practices. It goes without saying that any hint of scandal associated with the company will immensely affect her image and also the country at large.

This is why the Nigerian Senate must rise to the occasion and probe into the operations of the management of NNPC, now NNPC Ltd and specifically the current GGM of NAPIMS, Bala Wunti who over the years with the collaboration of his cohorts in both the multinational and indigenous oil companies has been involved in defrauding the nation's wealth through Inflating NAPIMS JV Cash Call Budgets.

Credible and independent industry sources who have spoken to Citizens Whistleblowers Coalition (CWC), alleged the following acts of corruption and fraudulent practices against Bala Wunti and his stewardship in NAPIMS:

1. Affiliations and Profit Sharing with certain oil servicing companies and multinational oil companies with the collaboration of certain individuals in these companies namely Eroton, Aiteo, Belema oil etc.

2. Bullying and frustrating contractors and operators (mainly the indigenous oil companies who have refused to partake in his fraudulent schemes) and frustrating oil development operations due to his greed and promotion of personal interest.

3. Total disregard for rules and due process in contracting processes.

4. Falsifying documents to conceal bribe payments and fraudulently mischaracterizing these bribes as normal business expenses.

5. Overbilling with an understanding that some of the payments are bribes; and Inappropriate hiring practices, such as issuing contracts or hiring candidates solely based on referrals by his cronies and business associates. Amidst the various indecent and corrupt practices being perpetuated by the GGM NAPIMS, Mr. Bala Wunti and his cohorts in the operating oil companies, is the continual decrease in Nigeria's oil production which could be partly linked to his greed and style of management.

We understand that some certain personalities in NNPC top management are well protected due to their ties to previous administrations, especially Bala Wunti who is being referred to as the "most powerful man currently in NNPC”. He is a man who commands his protection by providing funds got from his criminal acts to his protectors in the corridors of power. We urge Nigerians to come out with credible information on the activities of Bala Wunti and his cohorts in NNPC Limited and NAPIMS, as these acts are bleeding the nation dry. Such information should be forwarded to whistleblower@gmail.com. This will aid in the prosecution of all those involved in this gargantuan rip off of the nation.

Investigations by Citizens Whistleblowers Coalition (CWC), show that Bala Wunti and his cohorts in the operating companies are engaged in fraudulently inflating the yearly JV cash call budgets to cover their share/interest and once the funds are made available by the Federal Government & JV Partners, their shares are split accordingly. This is usually done with JV companies like Eroton, Aiteo, Belema oil etc. This is not just fraudulent but constitutes economic sabotage on the nation. A Forensic Audit will unearth the Augean stable of the financial reporting misconduct going on at NAPIMS. There has been reported cases of inflating the cost of the crude handling charge for every barrel of oil that is lifted out of our troubled oil producing regions. This is included in the JV budget. Investigation shows that a specific amount (about $4/bbl) is being added on the actual handling cost that is provided in the budget to cover Bala Wunti and his cohorts interest/share.

Again, their interest is farmed out once the funds are made available. JV companies involved in this are Eroton, AITEO, Belema oil, etc. A Forensic Audit will reveal that Bala Wunti is involved in profit sharing with some certain service providers with which he uses to inflate project rates.

Most worrisome is the bullying of indigenous oil companies and favoritism to a few oil companies in ensuring contracts are awarded to certain companies which we believe he has affiliations. Under his watch, NAPIMS has stopped collecting tenders as he operates with a list of favored companies manned by his fronts and cohorts who are given all the contracts in the oil industry.

It is an open secret that Wunti is notorious for frustrating oil development operations for personal gains and using his position as a top official to exclusively give contracts to companies he favors in flagrant violation of the procurement procedures.

A Major concern is the country’s participation in the Deepwater field development space, which is the major contributor to the nations oil production. Despite the rise in the crude oil price in the past months, with countries all over the world taking advantage of this opportunity by aggressively embarking on reserve growth and field developments to ensure they derive maximum benefit (economy, job creation, etc), this high prices currently present, Nigeria has only one (1) deep offshore rig currently carrying out drilling operations, which is the SNEPco Bonga OML 118 drilling operation. Despite this challenge in the nations oil development, Bala Wunti, due to his greed, personal interest and inherent fraudulent character, is willing to frustrate this Bonga field development to the detriment of the sufferings and yelling of the nation and Nigerians in general.

In an earlier petition by Concerned Citizens of Nigeria, revealed, “investigations show that on the 18th March 2022, SNEPco wrote requesting NAPIMS approval to exercise the two(2) years optional extension of the existing NNPC approved contract with OCEAN DEEP DRILING (ODNEL)/VALARIS by extending the contract duration for another two years for the provision of Deep Offshore Drilling Rig Services. The Valaris DS-10 DRILLSHIP is currently carrying out drilling operations in the Bonga field OML 118. This approval request will ensure an uninterrupted drilling activity in the field. Interestingly seven months after, NAPIMS GGM refused to approve the contract extension. From our investigation, follow up letters and phone calls to the NAPIMS GGM office failed to yield any result

On account of the fact that NAPIMS supervises all the Federal Government investments in the oil and gas sector it is not in the best interest of Nigeria to continue to turn a blind eye to the rot and gargantuan abuse of office being perpetuated by the GGM. Of particular interest and concern is the offshore drilling contract awarded to TIREX Petroleum and Energy by First E&P at a cost of 100,000 dollars per day.

The current regime of impunity at NAPIMS which is solely interested in massaging the interest of Bala Wunti and his array of favored companies and business fronts, short changes and imperils other local service providers within the oil sector, who are forced to be spectators. So long as BALA Wunti remains as the GGM of NAPIMS, not only will the reign of sleaze and impunity continue, but there will be little or no development and progress in the nations oil and gas sector.

It is imperative and a patriotic duty that the Senate Committee on Oil and Gas must invite First E&P to explain how they got the contract in the first place and to explain the relationship between it TIREX Petroleum and Energy and Bala Wunti.

The most favored in the list of companies is the company named TIREX Petroleum and Energy Limited. A lot of questions are being asked on what "is the affiliation between this company (which is under the cover of another company known as STILL EARTH) and the GGM of NAPIMS. Another company in Wunti’s portfolio of favored clients is First E & P which is registered with the CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) as an offshore oil company.

A search of the CAC database reveal that Still Earth Holding Company has a number of companies with that name with a common roll of directors and share holders namely: Oluwafunmilayo Oyindamola Adeyemi, Patrick Olusegun Odegbami and Anthony Ogunlela amongst others. (See attached documents). The interesting thing is not only that Tirex Petroleum and Energy share the same directors but the same same official address.

TIREX Petroleum and Energy Limited was incorporated in year 2020 and coincidentally about the same time Bala Wunti was appointed the GGM of NAPIMS. A very interesting coincidence indeed. This set up seems to be for the sole purpose of diverting projects to TIREX. Bala Wunti’s dealings with TIREX was initially predominantly around Drilling projects, but the company recently added additional product codes on NIPEX portal to take advantage of Bala's influence in diverting other non-drilling related project to her.

A company that has never ever participated in any competitive tender since it was established but has been gracefully awarded several contracts that resulted from the forceful and bullying act of the GGM NAPIMS.

It should be noted that the former Managing Director, John Musa resigned to protect his integrity as the illegality of Bala Wunti and Tirex became unbearable for him.

Some of the information marshalled out here is not new as they have been drummed up by concerned stakeholders in the past. News sources have also drawn attention to these, which raise the question of why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the ICPC have not commenced an investigation. Or perhaps it is true as alleged that Bala Wunti who has amassed enormous wealth over his more than three decades in the nation’s oil and gas industry, truly “has the National Assembly and the Presidency in his pocket” as has been known to brag too often.

There is no doubt that the activities of Bala Wunti represent a clear and present danger to the survival of the Nigerian oil sector, if allowed to continue. This is an urgent call on the Senate to initiate a thorough investigation into the activities of Bala Wunti and his management of NAPIMS.

Signed
Nafiu Ibrahim
Ella Susan
Obi Nwakanma

C.C
The President, Nigerian Senate
The Speaker, House of Representatives