Osinbajo:

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday confirmed that he approved the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, joint venture financing contracts as claimed by the Corporation

It will be recalled that the NNPC had stated in its response to accusation by Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu that contracts awarded under its Group Managing Director, Miakanti Baru did not follow due process that the President signed the two of the contracts.

But it was observed in some media reports that the two contracts  were awarded when the President was away from the country.

There have been speculations that the President gave approvals for the two contracts on his sick bed in London.

But the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, confirmed  in a series of tweets on his confirmed Twitter handle, @akandeoj that Osinbajo approved the  contracts while Buhari was away from the country.

He added that the Vice President approved the contract in his capacity as the Acting President when the President was from the country.

“In response to media inquiries on NNPC joint venture financing, VP Osinbajo, as Ag President approved recommendations after due diligence and adherence to established procedure.

“Action was necessary to deal with huge backlog of unpaid cash calls which Buhari administration inherited and also to incentivise much needed fresh investments in the oil and gas sector,” he said.