Posted by By LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja on
The presidency last night relieved the Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Funso Kupolokun of his job. Also retired is the Director General of the State Security Services (SSS), Colonel Kayode Are (retd).
• Are, SSS DG, retired
The presidency last night relieved the Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Funso Kupolokun of his job.
Also retired is the Director General of the State Security Services (SSS), Colonel Kayode Are (retd).
Daily Sun gathered that the duo have been directed to hand over to the most senior executive in their organizations.
The removal of Kupolokun has finally put the seal on recent media speculations that the NNPC boss was to be eased out of the corporation.
NNPC Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Dr Levi Ajuonuma had then dismissed the speculations as unfounded, insisting that Kupolokun was still at his desk.
Since the exit of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, petitions have been mounting alleging billion dollar deals against the NNPC group managing director.
Daily Sun learnt that Kupolokun had been under fire over recent alleged 71 contracts scam said to have been executed at the twilight of the Obasanjo regime.
It was alleged that the board of the NNPC had awarded 71 contracts as Obasanjo was about to leave office without due process as they did not carry the necessary work scopes to ensure transparency.
The Ondo State-born GMD of NNPC returned to the corporation in 2003 after he was sacked by the late General Sani Abacha as the Executive Director, Exploration.
Daily Sun gathered that Kupolokun may not have had hint of his removal as he yesterday traveled to Port Harcourt for the burial of one of the relations of the new Minister of State for Petroleum.
Are had his own share of controversy when he led SSS operatives to disrupt the meeting of Movement 2007, a coalition against Obasanjo's tenure extension in March 2006. The meeting that was to hold at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel was moved to the official lodge of the then Niger State Governor, Abdulkadir Kure, in Abuja.
Are also hit the headlines, when his men went after Obasanjo's opponents including Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2003 election; Alhaji Isa Kaita, a second Republic governor of old Kaduna State, and when they raided the offices of Insider Weekly, a Lagos-based magazine.