The protesters stated that it was subjudice on the part of the Gbillah-led ad-hoc committee to deliberate on the matter as it was already in court.
Pandemonium broke out on Tuesday when protesters under the George Uboh Whistleblowers Network stormed and barricaded the National Assembly to protest against the scheduled Mark Gbillah-led ad-hoc committee hearing on the alleged illegal sale of stolen 48 million barrels of Nigeria’s crude oil in China.
The protesters stated that it was subjudice on the part of the Gbillah-led ad-hoc committee to deliberate on the matter as it was already in court.
“There are two court matters initiated in the FCT high court and federal high court against the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari to account for the proceeds of the sale and the national assembly respectively,” a representative of the group said.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Joseph Umoh said, “The whistleblowers who furnished Hon. Mark Gbillah, the information germane to the 48 million barrels of crude oil stolen did not file any petition to the National Assembly, giving rise to the hearing, and neither were they called as witnesses to testify during the hearing.
“Our chairman, Dr. George Uboh, a known whistleblower whose petition to the National Assembly led to the sacking of former EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) chairman Lamorde, can authoritatively state that the National Assembly does not delve into any matter unless a petition is filed and laid on the floor.
"Because Gbillah boycotted this sacrosanct due process, Gbillah’s purported ad hoc hearing is a sham and a unilateral action precipitated by his greed. There are two court matters initiated in the FCT High Court and Federal High Court against Mallam Mele Kyari, NNPC Limited group CEO to account for the proceeds of the sale and the National Assembly respectively. Proceeding to hear a matter which is in two courts adds to the level of risk Gbillah is willing to take because of greed.
"Due to Gbillah’s recalcitrance, we are alerting the press today that the Niger Deltans whose crude oil was stolen and sold illegally in China, and Nigerians in general who were to benefit from proceeds of the stolen crude oil are here protesting to call the attention of Nigerians on the homeland, Nigerians in the Diaspora and the international community to Gbillah’s unilateral brazen, callous and wanton disregard for the rule of law to achieve his ulterior motive of greed.”
“We have listened to the recordings between Gbillah and the whistleblowers in which Gbillah demonstrated his incompetence, breach of trust and unprofessionalism. Gbillah should remember that power is transient. This act Gbillah is embarking on is a lose-lose situation for him. Posterity will judge Gbillah,” the group added.