A civil society organisation, United Advocates for Good Governance and Leadership, has described the corruption allegations levelled against former Executive Vice President (Upstream) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Engr. Adokiye Tombomieye, as a media trial lacking credible evidence.
The group said petitions and accusations against the former NNPCL executive over the past three years had failed to produce any formal indictment, conviction or proof of wrongdoing.
National Coordinator of the group, Advocate, Israel T. Ebiama, stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday titled, “Setting the Record Straight on Engr. Adokiye Tombomieye: Industry Machine, NNPC Missing Catalyst.
Ebiama said Tombomieye served under successive petroleum ministers and the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL with diligence, professionalism and technical competence.
According to him, no civil society organisation or pressure group has presented credible evidence linking the former NNPCL executive to corruption before any financial or security agency.
He noted that while several petitions had been submitted to the Presidency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-graft agencies, none had resulted in proven allegations against Tombomieye.
“The allegations against Engr. Adokiye remain public petitions without formal indictments or convictions. No evidence has been produced to substantiate claims of financial impropriety against him,” Ebiama said.
The group also argued that ongoing scrutiny of NNPCL’s operations and refinery rehabilitation projects should not be interpreted as proof of wrongdoing by Tombomieye.
It maintained that allegations surrounding the former executive were being wrongly linked to broader investigations into the corporation’s financial activities and refinery turnaround maintenance programmes.
Ebiama alleged that individuals behind the accusations were attempting to damage Tombomieye’s reputation because of his vast experience and expertise in the oil and gas industry.
“We are convinced that those working hard to blackmail Engr. Adokiye know how sound he is due to his in-depth knowledge of oil and gas. They simply do not want the Presidency to know that he is the best man for the position of NNPCL GCEO,” he said.
The group further claimed that Tombomieye’s leadership would promote transparency and strengthen the capacity of the national oil company to contribute meaningfully to national development.
It called on the Presidency, Nigerians and international oil companies to disregard what it described as unsubstantiated petitions aimed at tarnishing the image of the former NNPCL executive.
“Justice must be based on evidence, not media trials and politically motivated blackmail,” Ebiama added.
The group concluded by describing Tombomieye as a critical asset to the oil and gas industry, insisting that his expertise remained valuable to the future of NNPCL.
