The presidency has addressed allegations concerning Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu, a member of President Bola Tinubu’s Economic Coordination Council, who has been linked to significant petrol imports from Malta.
Reports surfaced, suggesting that Aliu, a prominent figure in the downstream oil sector, was involved in importing fuel from a blending plant in Malta, allegedly linked to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL). However, the NNPCL’s Group CEO, Mele Kyari, quickly dismissed these allegations, denying any personal interest in such operations.
An investigation by The Cable revealed that Aliu is one of the largest importers of petrol from Malta, prompting further scrutiny.
Aliu has maintained his innocence, asserting that his business practices are transparent and legitimate, and he vowed to address the concerns raised by the media.
In response, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, emphasized that Aliu’s long-standing involvement in the petrol industry, spanning over two decades, is unrelated to his position in President Tinubu’s economic council.
Ajayi criticized the attempt to link Aliu’s business operations with his council membership, pointing out that Matrix Energy, the company Aliu leads, has been a key player in the downstream sector for years, long before the current administration took office.
Ajayi also highlighted that members of the Economic Coordination Council were selected from prominent business leaders across various critical sectors, underscoring the council’s diverse composition.
