Public Funds: Senate Summons NCDMB Boss Over Allege $14.8m Diversion, Demands Full Disclosure by Dec. 9

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By Fatima Saka

The Senate Committee on Local Content has summoned the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, to appear before it over alleged financial infractions linked to a controversial $14.8 million investment in Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.

The decision followed allegations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) concerning the purported diversion of $14,859,257, reportedly injected by NCDMB into the refinery project during the tenure of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, who has been declared wanted by the anti-graft agency.

Rising from an investigative meeting on Thursday in Abuja, the committee resolved that the Executive Secretary and the NCDMB management must appear before it on December 9, 2025, and submit 30 copies of all relevant documents one week before the hearing.

Committee Chairman, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, expressed dissatisfaction that the NCDMB leadership failed to honour an earlier invitation sent on November 14. He said the invitation was to clarify EFCC’s findings regarding the alleged conspiracy and dishonest conversion of funds earmarked for the establishment of the Atlantic refinery.

“In view of the gravity of these allegations, we invited the Executive Secretary and the management of NCDMB to brief the committee. Unfortunately, they failed to honour the invitation,” Senator Thomas said, adding that the committee will issue a strongly-worded letter demanding their unfailing appearance, “not minding the ongoing EFCC and ICPC probe.”

During the heated session, lawmakers raised serious concerns about how NCDMB funds were disbursed to the refinery project, how the former minister allegedly gained access to the funds, the broader management of Local Content capacity-building funds, compliance of International Oil Companies (IOCs) with Nigerian Content laws, and the general opacity in NCDMB’s funding processes.

Senator Agom Jarigbe, who moved the motion for the summons, insisted that the committee must get to the root of the matter. Several senators criticized the Executive Secretary for what they described as “disregard for parliamentary oversight,” saying excuses of unavailability were unacceptable given the magnitude of public funds involved.

One senator asked: “When did he decide to travel? Was it after receiving our letter? If so, something is fishy. This concerns over ₦20 billion. He must take this seriously.” Another lawmaker said the committee would likely demand information on all NCDMB investments in refineries, petrochemicals and related projects nationwide.

Lawmakers also revealed ongoing inquiries into IOCs’ compliance with Local Content laws, especially regarding the use of the mandatory one per cent Nigerian Content Fund and employment of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry.

Senator Thomas said the committee had already received data from major IOCs and the ACTMP, noting that after 65 years of oil exploration, Nigerian participation remained alarmingly low.

A senator from Bayelsa State recused himself from further deliberations on the specific transaction, citing political affiliations with persons implicated. The committee accepted his decision but reaffirmed its authority to scrutinize all allegations involving public funds.

The committee mandated NCDMB to submit all requested documents by December 2, 2025, ahead of its appearance on December 9. It also resolved to conduct a full review of NCDMB’s management of funds and refinery-related investments and to summon IOCs subsequently for broader compliance hearings.

Senator Thomas added: “We will find out exactly what happened in the agency. This committee will not overlook any diversion of public funds.”