NNPC denies link with alleged Indian $25m oil bloc transaction

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has no link with the failed bid of an Indian company, Oil and Natural Gas Corp-Mittal Energy Limited (OMEL), to acquire oil bloc.
This is contained in a statement by NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr Ohi Alegbe, in Abuja on Tuesday .
The statement described the alleged non-refund of the signature bonus to the company by NNPC in 2006/2007 as spurious and misleading .
It said the reports linking the corporation with the transaction showed a high level of ignorance on the running of oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
It said NNPC was not the statutory body saddled with the responsibility of organising bid rounds and could not have received the alleged $25 million or any payment from OMEL for the transaction.
It said the deliberate attempt to drag NNPC into the various allegations surrounding the transaction was mischievous and unfortunate.
The statement urged those interested in the story to seek clarification with the relevant agencies responsible for conducting bid rounds and to whom OMEL might have paid the alleged fee.