By Anayo Akwitti
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered over N115 billion in outstanding statutory levies owed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by oil companies between 2021 and 2023.
The commission disclosed this on Wednesday while appearing before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, which is investigating findings from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) 2021–2023 Oil and Gas Sector Audit.
An EFCC representative, Francis Oka-Phillips Usani, told the committee that the recovered liabilities comprised N76.883 billion and $81.076 million owed as three per cent statutory levies to the NDDC.
According to Usani, the EFCC investigated 43 oil companies, with 24 found to have outstanding liabilities, while 19 others were cleared.
He said pressure from the investigation led some of the affected companies to pay directly to the NDDC, while the EFCC recovered N6.709 billion and $16.994 million.
Usani added that N73.373 billion and $67.070 million had so far been released to the NDDC, leaving N3.510 billion and $14.005 million in the EFCC’s recovery account.
He explained that the investigation focused primarily on unpaid three per cent statutory levies due to the NDDC, while noting that other statutory obligations and taxes owed to the Federal Government could also exist.
Meanwhile, the Senate committee rejected an attempt by TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited to defend queries raised against the company in the NEITI audit, citing the absence of the appropriate representative.
The committee directed the Managing Director of TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited to appear in person next week.
It also gave the managing directors of South Atlantic Petroleum Limited, Oando Oil Limited, Famfa Oil and Green Energy International Limited a final opportunity to appear physically before the committee.
The Chairman of the committee, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwabo, said the investigative hearing would continue on Thursday.
