By Paul Effiong, Abuja
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee probing power sector reforms and expenditure between 2006 and 2024 has constituted a seven-member sub-committee to conduct a forensic audit of gas supplied to electricity generation companies (Gencos) nationwide.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion moved at yesterday’s sitting by Hon. Harrison Nwadike, who queried the continued supply of gas to the moribund Sapele Power Plant over the past year despite its failure to generate electricity.
Nwadike said the anomaly was discovered during the committee’s recent oversight visit to the plant in Sapele, Delta State, noting that gas deliveries had continued even though the facility remained inactive.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Rep. Al-Mustapha Aliyu, said there were widespread public concerns that Seplat Energy was failing to supply sufficient gas to Gencos as required, thereby constraining power generation and short-changing the country.
Responding, the Managing Director of Seplat Energy, Mrs Ibiada Itoto, dismissed the allegations, insisting that the company remained committed to supporting the Federal Government’s power sector reform agenda.
According to her, Seplat’s overriding objective has always been to promote the sustainability and growth of Nigeria’s power sector, not to undermine it.
Also speaking, the company’s General Manager, Gas, Mr Olubukola Fasoyin, disclosed that the Sapele Power Plant currently owes Seplat about ₦20 billion for gas already supplied.
Nevertheless, Rep. Nwadike, who sponsored the motion for the forensic audit, alleged that Seplat may have committed an economic crime by acting as an accomplice to a power plant that allegedly diverted gas meant for electricity generation over the past year.
Reacting, Rep. Aliyu expressed shock, disappointment and concern that a company of Seplat’s stature could allegedly lack the internal controls to detect irregularities in the utilisation of gas supplied to power plants.
Meanwhile, the committee constituted the seven-man sub-committee, with Rep. Afam Victor Ogene as Chairman, while Kafilat Ogbara, Salisu Magaji, Faud Kayode Laguda, Harrison Nwadike and others will serve as members.
