The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has waded into controversial missing N500 million from the account of the Mosimi Depot Chapter of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).
Sources close to IPMAN said that the commission had served the executives of the chapter a letter of invitation on Sept. 17, over the alleged missing money.
Some factions of the association led by Adeleke Dada, had earlier petitioned the commission to probe the alleged misappropriation of N500 million by the Alhaji Dele Tajudeen led executives.
Dada, in addition to the allegation of N500 million misappropriation under the current administration, claimed also that unnecessary levies were collected by the past leaders.
Alhaji Dele Tajudeen, Chairman, IPMAN, Mosimi depot, also confirmed that his executives were invited by the EFCC to appear on Sept. 25.
“We have been invited by the EFCC to come and defend the allegations and we will definitely go with our documents to put the position right and defend ourselves,” Tajudeen said.
Tajudeen said that in spite of the EFCC invitation, members of IPMAN had resolved to sanction and sue some members for libel over frivolous allegations against the Mosimi depot executives.
According to the chairman, there is no basis for the allegation of misappropriating N500 million IPMAN funds.
He said that the members of the association had in spite of the allegation passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the Mosimi depot executives.
“The outgoing executives have been mandated to go on with the planned election of new executives in October, 2014.
“A letter should be written to the NNPC to recognise the IPMAN executives led by Tajudeen with immediate effect in the day-to-day running of the affairs of the association,” he said.
He also queried the allegation of some of the members, stressing that the Mosimi Deport barely have N100 million in its account.
“Where do we get such huge fund to misappropriate? Where did they get such figures? We are going to sue them for libel if they cannot substantiate their claims with evidence.
“In the first place, they are using illegal means to lay the allegation. In the constitution of IPMAN, there are procedures of making complaints and allegation.
“When you have any issue of wrongdoing against somebody, you write to the state or national executive body of IPMAN. They will set up a committee to investigate the allegation.
“It is when it is established that the person actually committed such an act that action can be taken against the person.
“As a matter of fact, in the IPMAN constitution, you cannot even go to court until you have exhausted all the internal avenues of getting the issue tackled
“Now, how did they come about the N500 million? Have they seen the account of IPMAN? I want to be honest with you; I do not keep IPMAN money.
“We have people who are in charge of finance. When everything is approved, they bring the paper and I sign,” he explained.
NAN
