The national executive of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Wednesday condemned the discouragement of stakeholders from attending NIPCOo’s Annual General Meeting purported by some individual spreading fake information.

The IPMAN secretary, Mr Danladi Pasali, in a communiqué issued after the National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja debunked the rumour and asked its members and other stakeholders of NIPCO to attend its forthcoming 2018 AGM.

He said that the national executive of IPMAN was aware that the chairman of NIPCO Plc, Chief Bestman Paul Anekwe, has complied with the necessary provision of law.

He said that executive body of IPMAN under the leadership of Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo respected the views of members of IPMAN on freedom of speech; the NEC of IPMAN will not tolerate anybody to hide under the association’s name to commit unlawful action to the detriment of IPMAN name.

According to him, the report also purported that IPMAN has petitioned the security agencies due to violation of rules.

However, Pasali said that the NEC of IPMAN has not petitioned any government agencies, such as AGF, IGP, EFCC, DSS and Registrar General of Corporate Affairs Commission, Registrar of Security and Exchange Commission on violation of any rules or law for NIPCO not to hold her AGM.

He said that the national executive committee hereby urged members who are stakeholders of NIPCO to attend the 2018 AGM of NIPCO at the designated venue as IPMAN as an association has no hand in the purported letter written and published by some unknown individuals.

He said that it is also a statement of facts one Chinedu Ukadike, who is the arrowhead in the purported suit FHC/PH/CS/06/2018 was not an IPMAN member as he has no company registered as independent marketers under IPMAN not to talk of being a shareholder in NIPCO Plc.

“NIPCO is a corporate entity with corporate entity with registered shareholders who are qualified to attend NIPCO AGM.

“The suit was an individual against individual which has no connection with IPMAN, IPMAN is not a party to the suit,” he said.

The IPMAN scribe said that it was expected that some newspapers ought to have relied on verified document before entertaining such publication, adding that the publication was meant to drag IPMAN name into the mud.

He said that while IPMAN recognises the right of an individual to seek redress in the court of law on any matter, this fundamental human right should not be abused by individuals.

Pasali said that those media house should not drag IPMAN into the suit in which IPMAN was not a party to the suit.

“IPMAN is of the opinion that newspapers should always verify every of their report before dishing it out to the general public.”