NNPC alerts members of the public to fraudulent letters on crude oil lifting

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has asked members of the public to beware of fake letters of authorization for lifting of crude oil.
According to the NNPC, the fake letters convey authorization for both buying and selling of Nigerian crude oil.
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Ohi Alegbe, in a statement Abuja on Monday, warned members of the public against falling victims of persons with fraudulent intents circulating letters authorizing the lifting of Bonny Light crude oil from Nigeria.
A part of the letter as quoted by the NNPC in the statement reads, “We hereby confirm that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has entered into contractual arrangements directly with Lavi International, Corp, to supply Bonny Light Crude Oil to the Lavi International Corp Associated Refineries and or Global Traders, and that the Lavi International Corp, has the power and authority to sell or otherwise deal with the Bonny Light Crude Oil, the subject of those contractual agreements.”
The NNPC distanced itself from such a letter, saying that that MESSRS Lavi International Corp is not one of its crude oil off-takers for the 2014-2015 Term Contract Period and therefore has not been allocated any crude oil volume as speculated in the fake letter of authorization.
The list of local and international companies duly approved as NNPC’s crude oil off-takers for the 2014-2015 Term Contract Period, the corporation further explained, had been widely publicised.
It therefore urged members of the public to avail themselves of such information to avoid being duped by unscrupulous elements.
NNPC added, “Meanwhile, we are working closely with relevant security agencies to track and bring to book all those behind these nefarious activities.”