Gbenga Komolafe, the chief government of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Fee (NUPRC), has been accused of facilitating a $5 million oil block take care of fugitive businesswoman Aisha Achimugu – a scandal that additional exposes the entrenched rot in Nigeria’s oil trade.
Achimugu, who has been declared wished by the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) for cash laundering and funding fraud, allegedly obtained privileged entry to a profitable oil block shortly after the $5 million transaction, insiders say.
In keeping with a report by Level Clean Information (Jackson Ude), the allegation cuts deep into Nigeria’s most strategic {economic} sector, the place oil stays the biggest supply of nationwide income. Regulatory corruption not solely advantages a robust few however deprives the nation of funds essential for infrastructure, schooling, and healthcare.
The newspaper reported that Komolafe allegedly facilitated the deal underneath the pretense of “strategic partnership encouragement” — a euphemism reportedly used to cloak suspect {financial} dealings.
Insiders allege the transaction was fastidiously structured via intermediaries to obscure any direct hyperlinks.
Regardless of these efforts, concern over the integrity of oil block allocations has intensified inside trade and political circles.
“This was not a one-off. Komolafe has turned oil block awards right into a cash-and-carry affair,” stated a senior NUPRC official who spoke on situation of anonymity.
Amid ongoing shakeups within the oil ministry, Komolafe is claimed to have boasted about being untouchable, crediting his perceived immunity to direct money deliveries to the Presidential Villa.
“They’ll’t take away me,” Komolafe was quoted as saying. “I ship cash on to the Villa.”
In keeping with insiders, Komolafe has cultivated robust ties inside the Presidency, allegedly sustained by common financial handovers, serving as a buffer in opposition to accountability.
Trade gamers describe a rising sample wherein entry to high-value oil belongings is pushed much less by advantage and extra by political or {financial} leverage. One government at a Nigerian oil agency that misplaced out on a serious bid described the method as “calculated to learn those that pay.” Achimugu, via her dealings with Komolafe, reportedly capitalized on this atmosphere the place funds trumped course of.
The broader implications are alarming. Analysts warn that such conduct undermines the Petroleum Trade Act (PIA) 2021, which was enacted to make sure transparency and fairness within the oil and fuel sector.
“When regulators change into retailers, the system collapses,” stated a coverage analyst targeted on extractive industries. “Komolafe’s actions, if confirmed, erode the very foundations the PIA was meant to strengthen.”
Sources additionally counsel Komolafe’s actions go effectively past the Achimugu affair. Different politically related firms have allegedly obtained oil blocks or favorable regulatory selections following illicit {financial} settlements. In a single case, a consortium of indigenous firms reportedly misplaced a license that was reassigned to an entity tied to a former governor after secret negotiations.
Komolafe and his associates reportedly depend on a trusted community of intermediaries to dealer these offers and defend him from direct publicity, although he stays a principal beneficiary.
Such practices, if unchecked, are driving away respected buyers. Many have gotten more and more hesitant to interact with Nigeria’s oil sector resulting from its lack of transparency and predictability.
The fallout is already tangible: billions misplaced yearly from delayed tasks, authorized disputes, and investor exit.
Komolafe’s present predicament echoes his controversial previous.
As Common Supervisor of Operations on the Petroleum Merchandise Pricing Regulatory Company (PPPRA), he was prominently featured in a Premium Instances exposé on the gas subsidy fraud scandal underneath former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Investigations revealed that he helped criminals exploit the subsidy system by facilitating the entry of empty vessels, which had been falsely documented as delivering gas, enabling fraudulent subsidy claims. Komolafe reportedly obtained a typical 30% minimize from such transactions.
Following Muhammadu Buhari’s rise to the presidency, Komolafe — then Group Common Supervisor for Crude Oil Advertising — fled the nation however later returned.
A Federal Excessive Courtroom in Lagos ultimately ordered the forfeiture of ₦7.6 billion linked to Diezani, a sum suspected to have been laundered via Komolafe.
In court docket testimony, Komolafe admitted he delivered 12 padlocked baggage containing $70 million to an Abuja banker on Diezani’s instruction.
“As I can keep in mind, shortly earlier than the 2015 elections, it was the norm for heads of subsidiaries (of the NNPC) to be invited for undisclosed briefing of actions of their departments to the minister,” Komolafe stated.
“On the finish of such briefings, the then Minister of Petroleum Sources, Alison-Madueke, gave me a GSM quantity in respect of 1 Charles, whom I had by no means met, with a transparent instruction that I ought to convey 12 padlocked baggage to the stated Charles.
“The supply, the content material and the aim of the luggage weren’t disclosed to me. Thereafter, I referred to as the stated Charles, who equally confirmed to me that he had been briefed in regards to the message. I delivered the luggage to Charles.
“A lot later, the EFCC invited me for interrogation on the difficulty and I made an announcement to that impact. Charles equally confirmed on the EFCC that he obtained the 12 padlocked baggage and the luggage contained the sum of $70 million.”
Pressed on the character of his relationship with Diezani, Komolafe replied: “We had a command-and-obey relationship and in addition took an oath of workplace to obey directives and authority.”
Civil society {groups} and segments of the press at the moment are demanding a full-scale investigation into Komolafe’s tenure at NUPRC.
Activists warn that failure to research him will ship a harmful sign.
Observers argue that how the present administration handles the Komolafe affair could in the end decide whether or not Nigeria’s battle in opposition to corruption is critical — or just performative.