Federal Ministry of Finance yesterday said only oil marketers found not to be part of the current strike will be paid the oil subsidy money, while other with suspicious claims will be investigated and prosecuted if necessary.
The fuel scarcity, sparked by the strike, continued to bite harder yesterday in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), disrupting the travel plans of many residents ahead of the Eid-el-Fitri.
The ministry, in a statement, outlined the circumstances under which it will settle the marketers’ claims for subsidy.
It said: “For oil marketers under investigation for possible refunds to the government, their 2012 outstanding claims will be netted out against their expected refunds to government and those with a positive net balance, that is, outstanding claims greater than expected refunds will be processed and paid.
“ For marketers with a negative balance with government, they owe government more in refunds than government owes them, the Aig-Imoukhuede committee will accelerate review of their documents after the Sallah break so that their claims can be processed and settled, if cleared, without further delay.
“ For others that may not be in the above categories but who have other issues or claims, their claims will also be attended to with the same dispatch.
“The position of the Federal Government on fuel subsidy payments is clear: We will do our best to encourage honest efforts by genuine companies engaged in fuel importation but we will not fall for the cheap blackmail of indicted marketers who are using all kinds of subterfuge to escape sanctions.
“We know that Nigerians are fully in support of this position because the money belongs to all Nigerians and it is important that the correct steps are taken to protect the public interest. “We would also like to stress that marketers with legitimate and unencumbered claims have been paid and will continue to be paid as these details show:
– Between April and May 2012, Batches D/12 and E/12 involving 14 oil marketers with a claim of N17 billion were fully settled.
– In addition, since early July 2012, N25.6 billion worth of claims have been fully settled.
– In all, between April and August this year, in respect of 2012 PMS claims, N42.666 billion have been paid to 31 oil marketers.
“These are incontrovertible facts which confirm government’s commitment to ensuring that issues concerning genuine marketers with legitimate claims are dealt with expeditiously.
“Following the work of the Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidy Payments led by Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the following firms are being investigated based on evidence that they may have engaged in fraudulent activities under the fuel subsidy regime:
1. Alminnur Resources Ltd 2. Brilla Energy Ltd 3. Caades Oil And Gas Ltd 4. Capital Oil And Gas Industry Ltd 5. Connoil Plc 6. Downstream Energy Source Ltd 7. Eterna Plc 8. Euraafric Oil And Gas Ltd 9. Lumen Skies Ltd 10. Majope Investment Ltd 11. Matrix Energy Ltd 12. Menon Oil And Gas Ltd 13. Mob International Services 14. Mrs Oil And Gas Ltd 15. Nasaman Oil Services Ltd 16. Natacel Petroleum Ltd 17. Ocean Energy Trading And Services 18. Pinnacle Contractors Ltd 19. Sifax Oil And Gas Company 20. Tonique Oil Services Ltd 21. Top Oil And Gas Development Co. Ltd “The Report recommended that these firms refund various amounts to the national treasury.”
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