The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited has debunked a report that it paid N20 billion to ghost consultants.

NNPC Limited also denied a report by the platform accusing it of theft of multi-billion Naira tax due to the Ogun State Government.

In a statement by its spokesperson Garba Deen Muhammad, the NNPC said it always follows global best practices when engaging consultants.

“The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that as a responsible corporate organization, it does not have or deal with ghost consultants,” Muhammad said.

“At NNPC Ltd, the process of engaging consultants whenever the need arises is clear and verifiable and follow global best practices.

“It is therefore unfortunate that for whatever reason, the said online platform would make such & grievous allegation, mindless of the consequences of such actions. The claim of a missing N20bn is absolutely false and baseless.

“The NNPC Ltd therefore demands that Sahara Reporters retracts the said publication immediately, and going forward, the platform should verify its facts before going to press.”

Commenting on the allegation of Ogun State Government claiming a back duty tax liability of about N18bn, against an NNPC subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Muhammad explained that PPMC had objected and challenged the claim through its Tax Consultant.

He stated that the Ogun State Government took the matter to court which is not unusual In business circles and that NNPC Limited will prove its case accordingly.