Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu has been removed as Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)–a position he combined with being Nigeria’s petroleum minister, presidency sources have told Ekekeee.
He has been replaced by Maikanti Baru.
Baru is a former group executive director (GED) for exploration and production in the NNPC and hails from Bauchi State.
Kachikwu however remains the minister of state for Petroleum resources.
Our sources in the villa also say Kachikwu has been fingered in plenty of corrupt dealings in the oil sector and is being carefully watched by president Muhammadu Buhari.
Said one villa source: “Kachikwu was collecting money from folks in the industry, including fuel marketers under the pretense of Buhari’s 2019 election war chest. This is CONFIRMED. And most importantly, the President knows. That means himself and the Chief of Staff and to an extent SGF are toast.
“Kachikwu was caught pants down. He is toast”, our impeccable villa source added for emphasis.
Ekekeee exclusively reported earlier in the month that Kachikwu was screamed at by president Muhammadu Buhari as the petrol scarcity lingered. We had also reported that he’s lost the confidence of his colleagues in the federal executive council.
It remains to be seen if the urbane Kachikwu will remain minister of state for petroleum for much longer.
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