The Nigerian Senate has set up a panel to probe the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru, over allegations made against him in a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu.

This was sequel to a motion raised on Wednesday by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, representing Imo East, on the need to conduct an holistic investigation into the activities of the NNPC group.‎

The panel is also to investigate the policy introduced by NNPC Trading Limited, a subsidiary of the corporation, among other issues.‎

‎Additionally, the committee would probe another claim that the Baru single-handedly awarded a contract to a company, worth billions of dollars, despite its lack of capacity to handle such.‎‎

Senate President Bukola Saraki, while announcing the composition of the committee, which is to be headed by Senator Aliu Wamakko, said the contents of the letter, reportedly written to President Buhari by Kachikwu, must be investigated.

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