The Senate on Thursday flawed the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s (NUPRC’s) revocation of the Atala Marginal oil field (OML 46) licence in February 2020 and directed the commission to re-allocate the oil field to the original owners as earlier directed by the Presidency.
The resolution of the Red Chamber was sequel to the recommendations of its committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, presented by the Chairman, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, during plenary.
The lawmaker said that the committee had on the mandate given by the Senate investigated petitions forwarded to it by Sir Daniel Chukwudozie.
The committee Chairman said: “Chukwudozie had written the petition on behalf of Hardy Oil Nigeria Limited, Bayelsa Oil Company Limited (BOCL) and Century Exploration and Production Limited ( CEPL).
“The petition was against NUPRC for alleged illegal and fraudulent revocation of Atala Marginal Field (OML 46) licence and its re-award to Halkin Exploration and Production Limited.
“Award of the Oil field to Halkins as stated in the petition, is in breach of due process and Presidential Directive. The revocation was based on misleading information supplied by Halkin Exploration and Production Limited.
“Since the NUPRC was unable to produce written evidence that President Muhammadu Buhari actually reversed his initial directive on consideration of owners/operators of Atala Marginal Field for re-award as claimed by NUPRC, the committee strongly recommends that the oil field be returned to its original owners/operators. This recommendation is in line with Presidential directive which was applied in returning the Nine marginal fields to their original owners/operators”, the lawmaker added
Halkin Exploration and Production Limited as stated in the petition and listed in the records of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), became an incorporated company in Nigeria on Sept. 9, 2019.
