Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive instructing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to assume control of crude oil sales from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), labelling it as illegal.
President Tinubu reportedly ordered NNPCL to forward their crude oil sales receipts to the CBN for verification and documentation, aiming to enhance transparency and accountability in the process.
However, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, has condemned the directive, asserting that it breaches the legal status of NNPCL.
In a statement issued personally, Atiku Abubakar emphasized that state-owned enterprises, including NNPCL, are not subject to arbitrary directives and maintain full control over their finances as stipulated by the laws governing their establishment.
Abubakar acknowledged the potential positive intentions behind the government’s decision but emphasized the illegality of the action, particularly in its implementation.
Atiku Abubakar’s condemnation of President Tinubu’s directive underscores the legal complexities surrounding the management of state-owned enterprises like NNPCL.