Embattled Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu, has lost his job. He was removed yesterday by President Goodluck Jonathan and replaced with Dr Joseph Dawha, until yesterday, Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, NNPC.

Yakubu was appointed NNPC GMD in June 2012 and has in the past few months found himself in the eye of the storm following allegations by the then Governor of the central bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (now the Emir of Kano) that the corporation had failed to account for billions of dollars oil revenue. The allegation is still being investigated.

Also removed yesterday by Jonathan is Mr. Iyowuna Victor Briggs, Managing Director of NPDC, an NNPC subsidiary, who was replaced with Mr Anthony Ugonna Muoneke.

Two Group Executive Directors swapped positions in the changes announced by presidential spokesman Reuben Abati. They are Ms Aisha Abdurrahman, who now functions as the Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment, replacing Dr. Attahir Yusuf, who now takes over her former position as Group Executive Director, Business Development.

Announcing the changes, Abati said in a statement issued late yesterday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital:

“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the following appointments and changes in the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC):

“1. Dr Joseph Thlama Dawha – Group Managing Director, NNPC

“2. Mr Anthony Ugonna Muoneke – Managing Director, NPDC

“3. Ms Aisha Mata Abdurrahman – Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment, NNPC

“4. Dr Attahiru B. Yusuf – Group Executive Director, Business Development, NNPC

“The new Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Dawha hails from Borno state. He has served previously as the Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, NNPC and Managing Director of Integrated Data Services Ltd (IDSL), a subsidiary of the NNPC.

“Mr Anthony Muoneke, the new Managing Director of the NPDC, hails from Anambra state. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985, he has over 29 years’ experience at both local and international levels in the oil and gas as well as the energy and power sectors, including serving as Executive Director, Finance & Admin, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd. (NDPHC).

“All the appointments are with immediate effect.”

•Photo shows former NNPC GMD, Andrew Yakubu.