The Senate has vowed to investigate a corruption case in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the tune of $137 million.

Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West, exposed the case within the NNPC during the plenary on Tuesday, alleging that the Federal Government owns a company called Brass NLG Limited but it shares about 50 percent of its ownership with undisclosed Italians, Belgians and the French.

He further explained that the account of the joint venture is not domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria and has no Bank Verification Number (BVN).

Melaye also revealed that: “While some individuals and government appointees would continue to steal, we have decided to continue to expose corruption in public life.

“This morning, I draw to the attention of the Nigerian Senate a suspected colossal, monumental corruption in NNPC. Mr. President, a company was registered with the name Brass NLG limited with the Federal Government having controlling shares and we have some Italians, Belgians (and) French people who are shareholders with the Federal Government in controlling shares of about 50 percent.”

“It is known fact that once you have a joint venture, the account of such joint venture should be domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“But in this case, that was not what happened. An account was opened with Keystone Bank. This account has no BVN and there have been periodic withdrawals.

“The last withdrawal from that account was to the tune of $4 million. As I speak to you, the balance of that account as at today is $137 million,” he further said.