Petroleum sector probe: Senate postpones public hearing indefinitely

The Senate ad hoc committee probing into the alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry has postponed the public hearing slated for September 10 to 12 indefinitely.

The red chamber had inaugurated a 15-man ad hoc committee on July 22, 2024, headed by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), to fish out economic saboteurs in the petroleum industry that have held the country hostage in the last 10 years.

The committee was also saddled with the responsibility of investigating the billions of dollars spent on turnaround maintenance of refineries in the last decade with a view to addressing the deep-seated challenges bedevilling the petroleum industry among others.

But Senator Bamidele in a statement on Sunday night said the public hearing had been postponed due to “legislative exigencies aimed at further deepening due diligence” and further consultations.

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The lawmaker explained that the ad hoc committee would communicate a new date for the public hearing to all the stakeholders in due course.

“While we deeply regret all inconveniences it may have caused all the stakeholders collectively or individually, this decision was taken purely and solely in the national interest,” the Senate leader said.