Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will today respond to the allegations levelled against its Group Managing Director, Mr Maikanti Baru, by Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr Ibe Kachikwu in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

A senior NNPC source said last night that they (the NNPC) have got the green light to go ahead and reply to the allegations made by the minister.

Kachikwu in his letter to the president accused the NNPC boss of insubordination and award of $25bn contracts without due process, among others.

But in disputing the claims of the minister against the GMD, the oil company is arguing that they relied on the NNPC Act and the Bureau of Public Procurement Act in the operations of the corporation.

“This means that NNPC tenders board guides procurement matters that if need be are cleared with the Petroleum Minister who is also the President of the Federal Republic,” the source said, adding that as former GMD, Kachikwu should have known better.

Daily Trust