Ex-VP Sambo’s Aide Reacts to Femi Otedola’s Subsidy Fraud Claim Under Jonathan
- Billionaire Femi Otedola alleged that over ₦2 trillion was siphoned through fraudulent subsidy claims under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration
- Ex-VP Namadi Sambo’s aide, Umar Sani, dismissed Otedola’s remarks as “hypocritical” and argued that subsidy fraud spanned multiple governments, not just Jonathan’s
- Sani accused Otedola of benefitting from the same system he condemns, citing Zenon Petroleum’s dominance and the Otedola-Lawan scandal, while urging a full inquiry
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A former aide to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, Umar Sani, has criticised billionaire businessman Femi Otedola over his recent comments on fuel subsidy fraud during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Otedola alleges massive subsidy fraud
Source: Twitter
Last week, Otedola revisited Nigeria’s controversial fuel subsidy regime, alleging that corruption remained entrenched in the system.
The businessman claimed that members of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), which he said he founded, sustained a corrupt model built on subsidy fraud and obsolete infrastructure.
He alleged that “over N2 trillion was siphoned through questionable subsidy claims under the Jonathan administration.”
Sani accuses Otedola of hypocrisy
Reacting in a statement posted on his X page, Umar Sani described Otedola’s comments as “hypocritical, selective, and a convenient rewriting of history.”
“The subsidy regime predates Jonathan and lasted decades. It was entrenched under Obasanjo, continued under Yar’Adua, remained during Jonathan’s time, and persisted under Buhari with even greater opacity. To lay the blame solely on Jonathan is misleading, especially as Otedola himself enjoyed enormous privileges during the era," Sani wrote.
Otedola benefited from subsidy framework
Sani recalled that Otedola’s company, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, once controlled up to 90 per cent of diesel imports and benefitted heavily from the same subsidy arrangement he now criticises.
He further noted that Jonathan had set up the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede forensic audit panel to unmask exploiters of the system, but attempts at deregulation were frustrated by vested interests, politicians, and profiteers.
“Otedola himself was spotlighted during the forensic panel’s work and the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on subsidy payments chaired by Farouk Lawan,” Sani said.
Lawan scandal revisited
Sani also referenced the Otedola-Lawan scandal, in which the businessman admitted giving marked money to the lawmaker, later claiming it was a sting operation.
“Rather than feigning moral superiority, Otedola should come clean. His comments, while critical of corruption, appear more like image-laundering than truth-telling. Nigerians deserve honesty, full disclosure and historical accuracy," Sani stated.
Call for independent inquiry
Source: Twitter
Sani urged Otedola to support a full independent inquiry into the subsidy regime across all administrations, including the periods from which he profited, instead of offering “curated narratives.”
“Until then, his accusations amount to nothing more than a pot calling the kettle black,” Sani concluded.
Dangote halts fuel sales to unregistered marketers
In related news, Legit.ng reported that the Dangote Refinery suspended direct sales of petroleum products to unregistered marketers, prioritising retail sales.
The mega refinery disclosed in an email to the marketers that it had stopped accepting payments for product lifting effective Thursday, September 18.
It disclosed that payments made after the date would not be accepted and asked the marketers to adhere to the new rule.
Source: Legit.ng
