Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Warri branch has described as baseless, unfounded and sneak of blackmail report credited to a local tabloid, Public Watch Newspaper which alleged fraud and sharp practices at the Warri depot.
In a statement issued on Friday by IPMAN chairman, Chief Benjamin Emoefe, (aka Benjones), and made available to THEBIGPEN, IPMAN said if Public Watch Newspaper and her proprietors were knowledgeable enough they ought to know that it is not the responsibility of the Depot Manager, Engr Aliyu Maikano or any subsidiaries of NNPC to furnish the media with any such information as requested.
"We are baffled that a media organization like Public Watch Newspaper, claiming to be guided by rule of law, promoting transparency and accountability could write such a "crude letter" and doesn't know the appropriate quarters to channel their inquiries to rather they resorted to blackmail the Depot Manager and when they failed in their scheme, they rushed to the court to further rubbish themselves as their case was only committed to the dustbin for lack of substantial evidences.
IPMAN urged Public Watch Newspaper, its Editor, cronies and agents and his team to stop embarrassing itself with premature and unsubstantiated claims adding that they ought to know better that journalism abhor junk practices and making unverifiable allegations without hearing from the other side is against the ethics of the profession and would only damage their obscure image.
The statement read: "It appears the Newspaper is engaged by some unscrupulous elements to carry out the hatchet job given the fact that the said newspaper had been moribund for sometimes now and not known as an established organization in any part of Delta state as such a local tabloid which claimed to be doing investigative journalism should not have make such bias allegations without getting to hear from the other side like the IPMAN, Depot Manager, IMB, PTD and PPMC as well as other security agencies they are accusing.
"The content of the letter of the Public Watch Newspaper sneaks of sheer mischief, given the fact that the FOI Law which they relied on was abused when the paper requested the Depot Manager to avail them on weekly basis via email the allocation/Program schedule of DPK distribution in the Warri Depot. This is not the duty of the Depot Manager but that of NNPC Headquarters in Abuja.
"IPMAN is constrain to make this public in order to correct the erronous impression created by the newspaper and as an association directly involved with the day to day activities at the depot we can authoritatively say that all the allegations made by the supposed elements are false, baseless and unsubstantiated, given the fact that the said staff of PPMC who they relied on for information on the alleged fraudulent and sharp practices at the depot goofed as the supposed information dished out were far from the truth.
"As it could not be possible for IPMAN and IMB to supervised the diversion of products to buyers from West, East and
Northern parts of the country as alleged by this moribund newspaper even when the products are not available to go round licenced marketers within the Delta/Edo zone.
"No PPMC staff can give such a skewed account. The standard practice at the depot is such that every licensed marketers by NNPC follows a lay down due process in terms of buying, loading and the distribution of petroleum products as IPMAN plays a very significant role in the supervision of this process.
"The duty of the security agencies at the depot is to protect and also guaranty peace and orderliness at the depot and not to involve in any financial dealings at the depot.
"As far as we are concern the security agencies comprising of the Army, SSS, State Task Force, Police as well as officials of PTD, DPR, R & I,PPPRA and PPMC operating at the depot are not in a position to collect monies by fraudulent means whatsoever for any product loaded by any licensed marketer at the depot.
"To the best of the knowledge of IPMAN, the depot Manager since assumption of duty has proven to be a well discipline and transparent staff of NNPC who has displayed a high sense of professionalism to the smooth day to day activities at the depot and it would be unfair for anybody or group of persons to want to tarnish or blackmail the good works of PPMC and the Depot Manager.
"We wish to state categorically that the depot is devoid of religion, ethnic and political sentiments as the people operating at the depot are businessmen who see themselves as one Nigeria.
"IPMAN as a responsible and recognized association take exception to it’s good name being dragged in the mud and would not hesitate to take legal action against any individual or group of persons with such intent to tarnish it’s reputation".
It could be recalled that Public Watch Newspaper had in a letter titled "Request For Information" addressed to the Depot Manager of PPMC, Warri, signed by its Editor, Mr. Agbonmire Ohiorenoyia requested the Depot Manager to avail them on weekly basis via email the allocation/Program schedule of DPK distribution in the Warri Depot. The request was declined, thus forcing the newspaper to seek an order of mandamus compelling him to do same in court but the case was reportedly struck out for lack of merit.
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