The Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (CHURAC) has taken a swipe at the Hon. Mark Gbillah-led House of Representatives ad-hoc committee over its alleged continuous harassment of some top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) "on the unsubstantiated allegations of sale of 48 million barrels of stolen crude oil in China".

In a press release issued on Tuesday and made available to newsmen in Lagos by its Chairman, Board of Trustees, Cleric Ebikonbowei Alaowei, Esq., the group said that the Gbillah-led panel was only promoting serial blackmailers, cyber bullies, and stalkers who were hiding under the whistleblower policy to carry out smear campaigns in the media to assassinate the characters of their victims.

CHURAC asserted that one of the persons claiming to be the whistleblower behind the alleged crude heist, is an ex-convict with questionable character and, as such, lacks the morals to float a whistleblower organisation in Nigeria to fight financial crime.

Specifically, CHURAC claimed that the group "George Uboh Whistleblowers Network" is carrying out smear campaigns against the leadership of the NNPC Limited for pecuniary reason, insisting that the allegation that NNPC Limited sold 48m barrel stolen crude oil to China is baseless and has no atom of truth.

"We're aware that the person behind the so-called whistleblower group is an ex-convict both nationally and internationally. A person who has been convicted by courts of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria and the USA over financial crimes cannot float a whistleblower organization in Nigeria to fight financial crime.

"While we support every genuine move to checkmate corrupt activities both in private and public sectors, some whistleblowers are now taking advantage of the gesture to witch hunt perceived enemies. Some are now indulging in cyberbullying or stalking, while others carry out smear campaigns in the media to assassinate the characters of their victims.

"If George Uboh believes that the NNPC Limited CEO, Mele kyari or any member of the company commits a criminal offence, he should channel his campaign to the appropriate quarters. If actually George Uboh's Whistleblowers' Network has instituted court action against the NNPC Limited, then he should restrain his group from prosecuting a media trial against the leadership of the Company".

CHURAC said that Gbillah-led panel was only dancing to the drumbeat of the serial blackmailers and now being used to persecute NNPC Limited's management board.

"The steps taken by the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee on Illegal Sale of 48m barrels of crude oil is therefore condemnable. It appears that the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives has chosen to close ranks with the blackmailers. The protest staged by George Uboh's Whistleblowers' Group, led by Ambassador Joseph Peter Umoh against the House ad hoc Committee is a ploy to embolden the House ad hoc Committee led by Hon. Mark Gbillah to witch hunt the leadership of the NNPCL.

"Granted that the National Assembly is constitutionally empowered to investigate and probe institutions of government, performing that function to intimidate and witch hunt perceived enemies is uncalled for. The National Assembly should therefore stop this glaring persecution of the NNPC Limited's Management Board. George Uboh should also call his Group of protesters to order.

"He cannot blackmail everybody into submission with his fraudulent whistleblower organization. We call on the NNPC Limited not to succumb to the pressure of these serial blackmailers.

"We also call on the anti-corruption agencies to invite these so-called protesters and their sponsors for interrogation and possible prosecution if found wanting," the statement reads.

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