By Mike Eboh

ABUJA—The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has called on the Federal Government to reopen the probe on the N10.9 billion alleged subsidy fraud involving IPMAN Investments Limited.

Speaking at IPMAN’s Extra-Ordinary General Meeting in Abuja, factional President of the association, Mr. Chinedu Okoronkwo, said this became necessary as individuals allegedly involved in the scandal were currently fomenting trouble within the association.

Okoronkwo stated that the Federal Government should probe IPMAN’s Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, imports into the country within the period the controversial and suspicious subsidy payments were made.

According to him, individuals found culpable should be brought to book and made to answer for their wrongdoings.

At the meeting, members of the association also dissolved its Board of Trustees and amended its constitution.

Following the dissolution of the Board, members of the association present at the meeting, constituted a new 21-member Board of Trustees, representing the 21 depots across the country.

Okoronkwo disclosed that the decision to suspend one of its past presidents, Mr. Aminu Abdulkadir and the dissolution of its Board of Trustees was due to alleged sharp practices purportedly perpetrated by the past president and some members of the Board.

Okoronkwo said the new Board would be saddled with the responsibilities of advising IPMAN executive on its business processes to ensure that marketers enjoy adequate supply of products and also guarantee unhindered supply of the commodity across the country.

Also, in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of IPMAN was mandated to evolve measures that will further aid the association in strengthening its stake in the downstream sector and diversify where necessary, while a vote of confidence was passed on the Chinedu Okoronkwo’s NEC.

Continuing, the communiqué reads, “That the 2009 Amended Constitution be and is hereby amended to reflect changes in the composition f the Board of Trustees Automatic Succession Clause for the office of the National Vice President as enshrined in Articles 20 and 22 of the 2009 Amended Constitution, in accordance with current realities.

“That considering the Association’s current drive to widen its scope obliterate obnoxious provisions in the constitution and diversify, the Association’s Board of Trustees be and hereby dissolved and a New Board was reconstituted while the members were mandated to elect their Chairman which position shall rotate between north and south, five members from each Zone and the National President and Secretary as members.

“That in line with the 2009 Amended Constitution, a bye-election was conducted to fill vacant positions for the office of the Vice President and other offices.

“That in a manner that could best be described as re-enactment of the old order, the Association’s constitution was amended to reflect the Automatic Succession clause for the office of the National Vice President.”